Tag: From the Institute
The MITRE Corporation Shows Its Might in Aviation Development
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Federally funded R&D Research Centers, or FFRDCs, supply federal agencies with objective data, engineering expertise, and systems-level solutions without competing commercially. MITRE’s Center for Advanced Aviation System Development (CAASD) provides advice and technical expertise to improve the safety, security, and efficiency of the National Airspace System.
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Magnetic Levitation Rises to the Occasion
FROM THE INSTITUTE
A new family of hyperdrive motors may rewrite the aerospace playbook with technology that can redefine vertical lift aircraft, said Rod Randall, co-founder and chairman of MagLev Aero. It may sound like magic, but the propulsion breakthrough uses artificial intelligence (AI) and magnetic levitation (maglev) to advance technology that will allow vertical-lift aircraft to fly quieter, more efficiently, farther, and faster – and at less cost – than anything before.
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AIAA Associate Fellow Deininger Died in June 2025
FROM THE INSTITUTE
William (Bill) D. Deininger, Ph.D., died on 21 June. He was 68 years old. Deininger graduated with a B.S. in Physics from the State University of New York Cortland (1979). He then received an M.S. in Physics and Plasma Physics from Colorado State University (1982) and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from University of Pisa (1995).
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Redefining the Vision of Sustainable Aviation at AIAA AVIATION Forum 2025
FROM THE INSTITUTE
AIAA has prioritized the exploration and orientation to sustainable aviation design and operations over the past three years, led by the Sustainable Aviation Integration and Outreach Committee (IOC) established in 2024 and chaired by Phillip Ansell from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The committee was born from a task force chaired by Ellen Ebner from The Boeing Company. Both initiatives successfully aligned government, industry, and research-focused members and enthusiasts to help build a community focused on novel aircraft designs and operations, considerate of resources and societal needs.
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2025 SSTC Essay Contest Winners Announced
FROM THE INSTITUTE
We are excited to announce the winners of this year’s Space Systems Technical Committee Student Essay Contest. With the theme “Explore the growing population of objects in Earth orbit, identifying contributing causes, consequences, traffic management implications, mitigation approaches, and prospects for the future,” young minds from across the country demonstrated exceptional curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. Their essays explored how space debris is formed, the risks it poses to satellites and astronauts, and the innovative solutions that could shape a safer future in space.
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Exploring AAM Multimodal Integration at 2025 AIAA AVIATION Forum
FROM THE INSTITUTE
At the cutting edge of aerospace innovation, novel advanced air mobility (AAM) aircraft and technologies are poised to redefine how passengers and cargo move through complex, multi-use transportation networks. What early use cases could reap the benefits of this opportunity to enhance door-to-door mobility? The AIAA AAM Multimodal Working Group, in partnership with ITS America formally began this conversation with a webinar in June 2025, and expanded their programming with an in-person workshop at 2025 AIAA AVIATION Forum, “Early Use Cases for AAM Integration in Multimodal Transportation.”
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Ascendant Alumni – Their Journey & Where They Are Today
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Since the inception of ASCEND in 2020, a global community of emerging space trailblazers has taken the stage to pitch their vision for “Space for All.” In five years, the community has grown to 60 thought leaders. Program creator Moriba Jah, in an interview before this year’s final cohort, said, “What they share is a fire and a passion to be agents of change,” and to advocate for “regenerative, restorative, and just human space activity.” The Ascendants profiled [in this article] share how the program inspired their journey as space stewardship advocates.
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Physics Can Revolutionize AI Simulations for Better Design
FROM THE INSTITUTE
Incorporating physics into artificial intelligence (AI) models for simulation will help rewrite how to design aerospace systems, noted Juan Alonso, Chief Technology Officer and Cofounder of Luminary Cloud and Chair of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford University. In a far-reaching and intriguing presentation, Alonso described the Physics AI revolution in an AIAA Aerospace Perspective Series webinar in August, as well as on the Hub stage at AIAA AVIATION Forum and ASCEND in July.
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Beyond the Boundaries: Highlights from the 2025 AIAA Rocky Mountain Section Symposium
FROM THE INSTITUTE
On 12 September, the 2025 AIAA Rocky Mountain Section Annual Technical Symposium (RMS ATS) was held at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. Centered on the theme “Beyond the Boundaries: Aerospace Innovations for the Next Frontier,” the event drew over 350 attendees ranging from high school students to seasoned professionals and retirees. Throughout the day, speakers and presenters underscored the value of bringing together thought leaders, students, researchers, and enthusiasts in a shared forum to foster in-depth discussion and community building.
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