Tag: From the Institute

From Boxing Gloves to Nanomaterials: The Unconventional Paths of Aerospace Material Startups

FROM THE INSTITUTE
At the 8th Annual Materials Startup Panel, a diverse trio of founders and executives peeled back the curtain on the high-stakes world of aerospace innovation. Moderated by Jessica Piness of Aegis Aerospace and the AIAA Materials Technical Committee, the session at AIAA SciTech Forum 2026 featured founders and executives from three startups, revealing unconventional paths to revolutionizing aerospace materials.

From Nanometers to Picometers: How BAE Systems Bridges the Valley of Death in Space Exploration

FROM THE INSTITUTE
In the arena of space exploration, the “Valley of Death” – the chasm between technology development and operational deployment – is a graveyard for many promising innovations. Jeanette Domber, Senior Manager for Technical Solutions and Strategic Pursuits at BAE Systems’ Space and Mission Systems division, detailed how her team successfully navigated this gap to deliver critical hardware for NASA’s most ambitious astrophysics missions.

AIAA Supports the Next Generation of Rocket Engineers at IREC

FROM THE INSITUTE
AIAA proudly returned as a sponsoring partner of the International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC), hosted by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA), for the second consecutive year. Held in West Texas in mid-June, IREC brought together more than 2,000 university students from 144 teams to design, build, and launch rockets in the desert heat.

Northrop Grumman’s “Execution Intelligence” – Turning Data into Runway in Aerospace

FROM THE INSTITUTE
In the high-pressure arena of modern defense acquisition, speed often clashes with complexity. At a session during AIAA SciTech Forum 2026 in Orlando, Myriam Newman, Chief Cloud and Data Architect, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics, challenged the industry to move beyond traditional reporting and embrace a new paradigm: “execution intelligence.”

AIAA Australia Team Highlights Collaboration and Capability at Space Events

FROM THE INSTITUTE
In mid-June, AIAA Melbourne Section’s Kaja Antlej, Senior Lecturer (Industrial Design) & XR Researcher at Deakin University, presented “AIAA in Australia: Building Community, Capability and Connection” at AusSpace 26 in Sydney. The event brings together leaders from industry, government, academia, and research to explore the policy decisions, capability challenges, and commercial opportunities shaping Australia’s rapidly expanding space sector.

AIAA Celebrates National Intern Day 2026

FROM THE INSTITUTE
In celebration of National Intern Day, AIAA is highlighting the students who have spent this summer working alongside the staff supporting initiatives from digital media and graphic design to government relations and student member competitions.

The Journey to Oshkosh: The AIAA X-Plane and the Joy of Experimental Flight

FROM THE INSTITUTE
From the X-15 to the X-59, an AIAA member has had a hand in developing and testing every X-Plane that has ever flown. This reflects who we are: aerospace professionals, united by a relentless drive to break barriers and push the boundaries of flight. This summer, Mujahid “TULSI” Abdulrahim, and Jessica “STING” Peterson dedicated their time, expertise, and even Mujahid’s experimental plane to bring AIAA’s mission to one of the most passionate aviation audiences in the world – and the AIAA X-Plane was born.

Sustainable Mindsets and Energy Transitions at AIAA AVIATION Forum 2026

FROM THE INSTITUTE
Sustainability and broader fuel efficiency-related priorities have been core to AIAA’s Aeronautics Domain since its initial launch in 2021. Addressing climate change is a component, but not the sole challenge to realizing this future. A key reality is an energy transition away from fossil fuels. How aviation addresses this energy transition, in harmony with other sectors, shaped conversations throughout AIAA AVIATION Forum.