Tag: Las Vegas

AIAA Unveils ASCEND Diverse Dozen Op-Eds on Space Sustainability and Environmentalism

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 19, 2024 – Reston, Va. – AIAA published the 2024 ASCEND Diverse Dozen (D12) Op-Eds – a collection of unique perspectives on today’s most pressing space sustainability challenges. The 12 visionaries who comprise the D12 will present their ideas on the opening day of 2024 ASCEND, 30 July – 1 August, Las Vegas. Organized as rapid-fire lightning talks, the D12 will address burning topics from the challenges of balancing growth through responsible space sustainability to orbital debris risking human space exploration.

ASCEND is the world’s premier outcomes-focused, interdisciplinary space event designed to accelerate building our off-world future. In its fifth year, D12 is produced in partnership with astrodynamicist Moriba Jah, chief scientist and co-founder of Privateer. More than 50 people have participated in the D12 program since 2020. Read all their Op-Eds here.

This year, the D12 is supported by the Office of Space Commerce, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce helping amplify underrepresented voices as they promote messages on space sustainability.

The 2024 ASCEND D12 cohort includes startup founders, association leaders, aerospace and engineering scholars, and policy experts in the space industry. They hail from Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, the United States and its territory, Puerto Rico.

The 2024 ASCEND Diverse Dozen are:

Nifemi Awe, Management Consultant, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Priyanka Dhopade, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering, University of Auckland
Martina Dimoska, Founder and President, International Space Alliance
Jose Figueroa, Founder, Aqua/Sky Launch Innovations
Amir Gohardani, CEO, Springs of Dreams Corporation
Kim Macharia, Executive Director, Space Prize Foundation
Isabelle Mierau, Founder, Space Debris DAO
Sumbal Mushtaq, Founder, Astralbeam Organization
Alma Okpalefe, Executive Director, World Space Week Association
Carolyn Overmyer, Director, Orion Chief Engineer, Lockheed Martin Space
Olga Stelmakh-Drescher, Chief Policy, Legal & Government Relations Officer, Exolaunch
Salman Ali Thepdawala, Ph.D. Candidate and Munich Aerospace Scholar, University of Bundesweehr – Munich

Registration for 2024 ASCEND is open. Press passes are available.

Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
AIAA is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

AIAA to Present Aerospace Excellence Awards During 2024 ASCEND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 28, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the winners of two aerospace excellence awards to be presented during 2024 ASCEND, 30 July – 1 August, Caesars Forum, Las Vegas. Registration is open for the global aerospace community to attend. Journalists can request a Press Pass here.

2024 AIAA Hap Arnold Award for Excellence in Aeronautical Program Management

MiMi Aung, Director, Technical Program Management, Project Kuiper, Amazon
(Formerly Project Manager for Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
Award Citation: For exceptional project management and leadership in delivery of the first aircraft on another planet, Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, advancing planetary exploration state of the art, and providing a new Mars exploration technology.

This award is presented to an individual for outstanding contributions in the management of a significant aeronautical or aeronautical-related program or project. The presentation is scheduled for Tuesday, 30 July, 8 a.m. PT.

2024 AIAA Space Systems Award

Elena Adams, DART Mission Systems Engineer, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Elizabeth A. Congdon, DART Mechanical Systems Engineer, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Geffrey K. Ottman, DART Electrical Systems Engineer, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Evan James Smith, DART Deputy Mission Systems Engineer, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Award Citation: For outstanding achievement in the development and operation of the DART spacecraft, completing humanity’s first in-space demonstration of planetary defense technology.

This award is presented to recognize outstanding achievements in the architecture, analysis, design, and implementation of space systems. The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, 31 July, 8 a.m. PT.

AIAA is committed to ensuring that aerospace professionals are recognized and celebrated for their achievements, innovations, and discoveries that make the world safer, more connected, more accessible, and more prosperous. Visit AIAA’s Honors and Awards Program for more information.

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
AIAA is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org or follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and visit ascend.events or follow ASCEND on LinkedIn, X/Twitter, and Instagram.

US Homeland Security Secretary Declares “No Drone Zone” for Vegas Super Bowl

The AP reports that “local, federal and NFL officials met with the media on Wednesday to outline hardened security measures and declare the Super Bowl a ‘no drone zone.’” League, FBI, and Secret Service officials and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas “said there have not been any ‘specific or credible’ threats to Sunday’s championship game at Allegiant Stadium.”
Full Story (Associated Press)

Transitioning AAM Into Reality at AIAA AVIATION Forum

By AUVSI News

Originally published by AUVSI

The 2024 AIAA AVIATION Forum will be held 29 July–2 August in Las Vegas, and this year’s event aims to bridge the gap between visionary concepts and tangible technological reality.

Starr Ginn, Advanced Concepts and Partnerships at NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center, served on the forum’s Guiding Coalition. AUVSI met with Ms. Ginn to learn more about NASA’s participation at AIAA AVIATION Forum and the Agency’s vision for how Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) will transform aviation’s role in the everyday movement of people and goods.

Ginn’s Background and AAM Expertise
Ms. Ginn has 27 years of experience conducting one-of-a-kind flight tests. Since 2011, she has played a critical role at NASA Armstrong to develop a roadmap for the AAM ecosystem. In her current role, she builds long-term strategies for complex system integration in partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense and industry.

She recently led the planning, development, and execution of the Advanced Air Mobility National Campaign (AAM NC) series, which consists of flight testing an experimental AAM ecosystem of novel eVTOL and cargo vehicles, infrastructure, and airspace management technologies in the context of increasingly complex safety scenarios enabled by automation.

In parallel to her work on electric propulsion and energy storage, she has also pushed research and certifiable automation software architectures to increase the safety of crewed and uncrewed aircraft.
In addition, she is a proponent for encouraging young women to get into aviation and mechanical engineering careers. As she works with university students and interns at NASA, she says, “It’s exciting to see when they learn about this new area of opportunity” with AAM careers.

Big-Picture View for the AAM Ecosystem
NASA has been working continually on UAM Research Roadmaps assessing where industry is and making sure NASA is providing research to assist them in the near term, mid-term, and long term.

The Agency’s objective is to safely support operations at scale in the National Airspace System (NAS). Ms. Ginn explains her vision of tens of thousands of air taxis and cargo aircraft operations in existing airports and new locations that are closer to urban areas. Reaching this vision will require a lot of new certifiable automation, new airspace tools and routes, and increased digital communications that integrate into the very safe airspace system the U.S. has today.

In the nearer term, Ms. Ginn sees NASA being able to help in a variety of areas, including:

Piloted eVTOL operations and safety systems
Studying human-machine interaction
Making operations more efficient at current airports
Supporting portable charging infrastructure to support electric flight before large-scale charging infrastructure investments are possible
Determining efficient routes and how we can decrease an IFR approach area

In the longer term, Ms. Ginn says NASA is conducting research on automation. More research on 1:N operations and how they will push the envelope of NASA’s vision for UAM. She described how industry is doing a “crawl, walk, run approach” to certification, starting with piloted cargo operations with 2 pilots. Eventually, as the industry transitions to increasing levels of autonomy, there will be opportunities to increase efficiency – but there will also be challenges to prove safety and compliance via detect-and-avoid and flight path management.

AAM Certification, Automation, and Software Considerations
Considering what’s ahead for software and automation, Ms. Ginn says, “I would really like to look at how multiple algorithms being operated at same time, and how automation software can determine which of those algorithms is eminent or most important to safely avoid a hazard.” Software for ground collision avoidance, air collision avoidance, geofencing, and object avoidance like towers are all using different kinds of algorithms relying on different sensors. Ms. Ginn is interested in how software architecture determines which algorithm is needed to protect the vehicle at any given moment and how the system switches between different inputs and algorithms prioritization.

Ms. Ginn emphasizes that autonomy software must verifiable, deterministic, and predictable to be safe enough to fly in the NAS. This will be a challenging and complex state of operations for both NASA and industry to achieve.

This year’s AIAA AVIATION Forum will host discussions on how AI can help keep pilots or aircraft safe – beyond just those on the vehicle. The session will explore ways that AI is being used across the entire aviation ecosystem, from ATC to pilot training, as well as the software concepts behind these types of AI.

Register now for AIAA AVIATION Forum
2024 AIAA AVIATION Forum will feature participation from every NASA site, with representatives sharing AAM research on different use cases, from regional cargo operations to urban air mobility operations, to different types of aircraft configurations and control systems. In addition to AAM, NASA experts will also discuss hypersonics, supersonics, and sustainability.

Register for the event here and save before the Early Bird deadline on June 10th.

2023 ASCEND Adds Lunar Luncheon Session – Chandrayaan-3: The Journey to the Moon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 6, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce a featured luncheon session – Chandrayaan-3: The Journey to the Moon, by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), during 2023 ASCEND at Caesars Forum, Las Vegas. The success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission makes India the fourth spacefaring nation to soft land on the moon.

Registration for the 2023 ASCEND event is open now. Journalists from around the world are invited to cover 2023 ASCEND; press passes are available for credentialed media by request.

Chandrayaan-3: The Journey to the Moon

Presenter: M. Sankaran, Distinguished Scientist and Director, U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Date: Tuesday, 24 October, 1245 hrs PT

In August, the world was captivated by the images from the surface of the moon as the Chandrayaan-3 mission unfolded in real time. From the successful landing at the south pole of the moon to the rollout of the Pragyan rover, the public – along with the professional aerospace community – watched in awe.

The Chandrayaan-3 mission included difficult engineering challenges – from safely landing on the moon to reaching the lunar south pole. Sankaran will share insights into the performance of Chandrayaan-3 onboard scientific instruments and key takeaways about the moon. He will cover the complex overall mission configuration, including highlights of the satellite bus systems and the objectives of the scientific instruments. Looking back, Sankaran also will discuss lessons learned from the Chandrayaan-2 mission in 2019. The Chandrayaan team has demonstrated remarkable resilience, persevering over time to continue advancing its lunar exploration program.

AIAA Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About ASCEND
Powered by AIAA, ASCEND promotes the collaborative, interdisciplinary, outcomes-driven community of professionals, students, and enthusiasts around the world who are accelerating humanity’s progress toward our off-world future! For more information, visit ascend.events, or follow ASCEND on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

2023 ASCEND Diverse Dozen Application Open: Inviting Unique Ideas on Space Safety, Security, and Sustainability

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 4, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has opened applications for its 2023 ASCEND Diverse Dozen program. Thought leaders and activists are invited to apply for this fourth cohort to address the most important issues surrounding space safety, security, and sustainability. Deadline for entries is 2 June.

Known as D12, the program is a partnership between ASCEND and astrodynamicist Moriba Jah, chief scientist and co-founder at Privateer and associate professor of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics at the University of Texas. This exclusive ASCEND community delivers rapid-fire lightning talks during the ASCEND apex event, 23–25 October, Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. The D12 Op-Eds will be published in conjunction with the event.

Influential thinkers and emerging leaders from around the globe have been featured in D12 during ASCEND since it launched three years ago. The D12 Op-Eds from the previous 35 participants are available online:

The recording of the 2022 ASCEND D12 cohort presentation is available: 2022 ASCEND D12 session.

“How much do you love humanity? Enough to save the planet?!” asks Jah, a space environmentalist who is advancing our ability to understand how human objects in space create both services and risks of collisions. “D12 is centered on the belief that we’re more similar than we are different, and action is best when born from compassion.”

Applications for the 2023 ASCEND Diverse Dozen are due on 2 June.

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About ASCEND
Powered by AIAA, ASCEND, which stands for Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery, is the world’s premier collaborative, outcomes-driven, interdisciplinary community designed to accelerate the building of our off-world future. For more information, visit ascend.events, or follow ASCEND on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

AIAA to Present Premier Lectures and Program Management Excellence Award During 2023 ASCEND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 24, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the winners of two premier lectureships and a program management excellence award. The lectures and award will be presented during 2023 ASCEND, 23–25 October, Caesars Forum, Las Vegas.

2023 AIAA von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics: “Celebrating a Century of Kármán’s Momentum-Integral and Space-Reductive Approaches: Applications in Rocketry and Beyond”

Joseph Majdalani, Auburn University
Monday, 23 October, 1130 hrs PT

Majdalani-Joe_2023 The 2023 AIAA von Kármán Lectureship in Astronautics has been awarded to Joseph Majdalani, Francis Chair of Excellence and Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Auburn University. Named in honor of Theodore von Kármán, a world-famous authority on aerospace sciences, the lectureship honors an individual who has performed notably and distinguished themselves technically in the field of astronautics. This lecture will be delivered in person at 2023 ASCEND in Las Vegas, as well as recorded and available on demand.

Majdalani’s lecture celebrates the centennial of the momentum-integral approach, one of the most significant theoretical contributions of Theodore von Kármán, taught widely in the fields of
aerodynamics. He will discuss the broad impact of this approach, which was introduced in 1921, and often used in conjunction with Pohlhausen’s polynomial approximations. As a well-recognized authority in the field, Majdalani has recently coauthored a textbook on the subject of viscous boundary layers. He also has developed several new formulations based on Kármán’s approach: these lead to an essentially exact solution to the celebrated Blasius equation, whose analytical treatment has remained intractable for over 100 years.

Majdalani’s technical research focus is on advancing acoustic instability and rotating flow theories in the context of solid, liquid, and hybrid rocket engines, especially those driven by tangential injection. He has developed new effective methodologies that have been successfully applied to various rocket systems including the class of cyclonic VORTEX engines pioneered by ORBITEC and Sierra Space Corporation.

“It is an extraordinary privilege to share and revisit the widely used method developed by von Kármán with our expanding aerospace community, even a century after its inception. Through this lecture, I not only aim at celebrating von Kármán’s remarkable contributions, I also hope to inspire further explorations of his captivating techniques in the continually evolving fields of aerospace engineering,” Majdalani remarked.

Besides his interests in advancing boundary-layer theory, Majdalani has been a pioneering researcher in aerodynamics and rocket propulsion for more than 30 years. He has been a prolific scholar and exemplary mentor who has been invited to present more than 97 seminars and plenaries worldwide. He has over 300 publications and 18,000 citations. An AIAA Associate Fellow, Majdalani is active in AIAA through technical committees and regional activities, and has received numerous AIAA awards. He earned his B.E. degree with distinction from the American University (AUB), and both his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Utah, all in Mechanical Engineering and a special focus on rocket propulsion.

2023 AIAA David W. Thompson Lecture in Space Commerce: “Connecting Space to Earth”

George T. Whitesides, Partner, Convective Capital
Monday, 23 October, 1245 hrs PT

George-T-Whitesides-2023 The 2023 AIAA David W. Thompson Lecture in Space Commerce has been awarded to George T. Whitesides, Partner, Convective Capital. Previously, Whitesides served as Chief of Staff for NASA in the Obama Administration, and later as CEO of Virgin Galactic, which over 10 years he led to space operations and a public company listing. He co-founded Megafire Action, an advocacy organization that supports solutions to the wildfire crisis, and is a partner at Convective Capital, a firm that invests in firetech companies. He is the cofounder of AstroAccess, a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging universal design and accessibility principles in spaceflight.

The David W. Thompson Lectureship in Space Commerce recognizes a prominent industry leader who has created or grown a space-related business and generated substantial economic benefits and market value. The award is sponsored and endowed by Orbital ATK Inc., to commemorate the long and distinguished career of commercial space pioneer, David W. Thompson. This lecture will be delivered in person at 2023 ASCEND in Las Vegas, as well as recorded and available on demand at ascend.events. As part of the lectureship, Whitesides also will participate in the 5th Annual Founders Panel, an exploration of company start up stories and lessons learned, Monday, 23 October, 1500 hrs PT. The panel will be moderated by Rob Meyerson, CEO, Delalune Space, and include Brad Cheetham, CEO and President, Advanced Space, and Ariel Ekblaw, Cofounder and CEO, Aurelia Institute.

Whitesides’ lecture will address this moment in time when aerospace lessons and solutions can help solve the world’s greatest challenges. “Our leaders must be active in seeking out connections to national and global problems that we can help or solve. Climate change, inequality and inaccessibility, the carbon transition, foreign repression – all of these are among the challenges of our time. Perhaps now more than ever, the abilities of the aerospace sector are directly relevant to many of these challenges,” said Whitesides. In his lecture, “Connecting Space to the World,” Whitesides will address some of these areas and describe what the aerospace community can do to perform this work most successfully.

“We are entering an era in which humanity will be a shepherd for Earth’s biosphere. We must use the systems engineering principles our community has developed and practiced to help architect that future, and we must not be shy with policymakers and the public about our ability to help,” Whitesides added.

Whitesides is an AIAA Associate Fellow. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Princeton University and a master’s degree in Remote Sensing and GIS from University of Cambridge, and he was a Fulbright Scholar in Tunisia.

2023 AIAA von Braun Award for Excellence in Space Program Management

John M. Grunsfeld, Endless Frontier Associates, LLC
Tuesday, 24 October, 0800 hrs PT

John M. Grunsfeld, Endless Frontier Associates, LLC, is being presented with the 2023 AIAA von Braun Award for Excellence in Space Program Management for “exceptional leadership of America’s space science program resulting in amazing achievements exploring the Earth, our solar system, and unravelling the mysteries of the cosmos.” The award gives national recognition to an individual for outstanding contributions in the management of a significant space or space-related program or project. The award honors Dr. Wernher von Braun, who was one of the world’s first and foremost rocket engineers and a leading authority on space travel.

Grunsfeld is a former NASA Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, and former NASA astronaut, logging more than 58 days in space with eight spacewalks. He visited the Hubble Space Telescope three times as an astronaut to service and upgrade the observatory. In addition to receiving the 2023 AIAA von Braun Award for Excellence in Space Program Management during 2023 ASCEND, Grunsfeld will participate in a panel discussion, “Beyond Earth: Enabling Everyday Life in Space,” Tuesday, 24 October, 1600 hrs PT.

AIAA is committed to ensuring that aerospace professionals are recognized and celebrated for their achievements, innovations, and discoveries that make the world safer, more connected, more accessible, and more prosperous. Visit AIAA’s Honors and Awards Program for more information.

AIAA Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

Boryung Partners with AIAA to Host ‘Humans In Space Symposium’ at 2023 ASCEND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Boryung to host HIS Symposium at 2023 ASCEND in Las Vegas this October
Over 2,000 global space experts are set to attend ASCEND, the world’s premier collaborative, outcomes-driven, interdisciplinary event designed to accelerate the building of our sustainable off-world future
Boryung will amplify the vitality of the space industry’s ecosystem and uncover innovative business avenues to pave the way for pioneering advancements with its collaboration with AIAA

August 18, 2023 – Seoul, Korea. – Boryung, a leading healthcare investment company, has announced its partnership with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) to bring the Humans In Space (HIS) Symposium to the upcoming 2023 ASCEND event. Powered by AIAA, ASCEND – which stands for Accelerating Space Commerce, Exploration, and New Discovery – is the world’s premier collaborative, outcomes-driven, interdisciplinary event and will be held this year from October 23 to 25 at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas.

Boryung’s HIS Symposium will take place during the 2023 ASCEND event and include the final pitches of the company’s annual HIS Challenge. This competition, launched in May, aims to discover early-stage startups and researchers dedicated to transforming human life in space. During the HIS Symposium, finalists will present solutions and research before a panel of prominent space experts. HIS Challenge winners will receive investments, research awards, and opportunities to participate in mentorship programs.

Beyond the HIS Challenge, Jay Kim, the Chairman and CEO of Boryung, will contribute to a panel discussion during ASCEND and underline the partnership between Boryung and AIAA. Kim’s address will spotlight the shared vision of the two entities, both of which are committed to shaping the trajectory of space exploration and propelling the space industry ecosystem forward. Axiom Space and the Aurelia Institute, co-hosts of the HIS Symposium alongside Boryung, will also lend their expertise.

“We’re thrilled to mark this collaborative milestone with AIAA, the world’s largest aerospace technical society. In just a year since the first Care In Space Challenge, we’ve made impressive strides,” stated Jack Dongjoo Lim, Head of Boryung’s New Portfolio Investment (NPI) Group. “Our dedication to a strong space ecosystem is resolute. We’re committed to this premier global space event opening doors to endless opportunities.”

“We are pleased that Boryung will add such a valuable perspective and interactive element to the unique ASCEND experience this year,” said AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher. “We look forward to welcoming the global community of dreamers and doers who will share their visions of the potential for people living and working in space in the coming years. The outlook for our sustainable off-world future is bright.”

This year’s ASCEND will see the participation of over 2,000 distinguished professionals from academic, private, and government sectors worldwide. The event will unfold across three days, spanning over 200 sessions encompassing the pitch sessions from the annual HIS Challenge, as well as keynotes, panel discussions, interactive roundtables, and debates.

Boryung remains resolute in its commitment to amplify the vitality of the space industry’s ecosystem with its collaboration with AIAA. Concurrently, Boryung is poised to uncover innovative business avenues, paving the way for pioneering advancements and hastening the commercialization of space exploration.

Building on the success of the inaugural 2022 Care In Space (CIS) Challenge, the HIS initiative aspires to enhance human life in space and harness the potential of space environments to address terrestrial challenges. Details about the HIS Challenge and Symposium can be found at www.careinspace.com.

Registration for the 2023 ASCEND event is open now. Journalists from around the world are invited to cover 2023 ASCEND; press passes are available for credentialed media by request.

Edelman Korea
Kiyoon Kay | +82-10-2073-1449 | [email protected]
Vanessa Lee | +82-10-8968-9308 | [email protected]

Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About Boryung
Boryung is a healthcare investment company founded in 1957 and headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. Following the company’s mission to become an indispensable contributor to human health, it has expanded their business portfolio to the space healthcare industry. Recognizing space as a new realm for growth, Boryung acknowledges the increasing number of individuals anticipated to embark on prolonged space missions, highlighting the importance of ensuring human survival in the hostile space environment. Hence, the company believes there will be substantial opportunities to foster new technologies and meet the emerging needs in this field.

AIAA Announces Global Speakers on Space Safety, Security, and Sustainability: The 2023 ASCEND Diverse Dozen

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 4, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) today announced the 2023 ASCEND Diverse Dozen (D12) – 12 speakers from nine countries who will address the most important issues surrounding space safety, security, and sustainability at the upcoming ASCEND event, 23–25 October, Caesars Forum, Las Vegas. ASCEND is the world’s premier outcomes-focused, interdisciplinary space event designed to accelerate building our off-world future.

D12 is a partnership between ASCEND and astrodynamicist Moriba Jah, cofounder/chief scientist at Privateer, and associate professor of aerospace engineering and engineering mechanics at the University of Texas. As a space environmentalist who is advancing our ability to understand how human objects in space create both services and risks of collisions, Jah said, “D12 is centered on the belief that we’re more similar than we are different, and action is best when born from compassion.”

The 2023 ASCEND Diverse Dozen include:

Mustapha Agbadi, Partner, Policy and Legal Compliance, Bismerk Solicitors, United Kingdom
Sahil Bhatia, Student, University of Bremen, India
Pablo Carlos Budassi, Designer and CEO, Awe Infographics, Argentina
Allen Herbert, Space Agrifood Advocate, United Arab Emirates
Malkia Kelelue, Space Science and Astronomy Officer, Kenya Space Agency, Kenya
Michelle Lucas, Founder and CEO, Higher Orbits, United States
Yumna Majeed, Founder, Exploration—Cosmos to Classrooms, Pakistan
Claire Nelson, OASEAS, Space Futures Forum, United States
Chau Nguyen, Chief Technology Officer, NYSA LLC, United States
Grecia Olano O’Brien, Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Quebec, Canada
Kristen Price, Chief Counsel/Senior Director—Legal and Compliance, Blue Origin, United States
Alejandro J. Roman Molinas, General Director of Aerospace Development, Paraguayan Space Agency, Paraguay

The group will deliver a thought leadership presentation of their visions for space during a dedicated 2023 ASCEND session on Tuesday, 24 October, 1130-1230 hrs PT. In addition, their Op-Eds will be published during 2023 ASCEND.

Registration for the 2023 ASCEND event is open now. Journalists from around the world are invited to cover 2023 ASCEND; press passes are available for credentialed media by request.

Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

ASCEND Guiding Coalition Members to Speak at U.S. Chamber of Commerce Space Event on 3 December in Washington, D.C.

MEDIA ADVISORY
CONTACT: Michele McDonald
703.264.7542
[email protected]

26 November 2019 – Reston, Va. – AIAA members Ellen Stofan, Mary Lynne Dittmar, and Jim Chilton will be speaking at LAUNCH: The Space Economy, a space summit hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on 3 December 2019.

Stofan, Dittmar and Chilton are members of the Guiding Coalition of ASCEND, the world’s first outcomes-focused, cross-disciplinary event designed to accelerate the building of our off-world future.. ASCEND’s Guiding Coalition is led by former Blue Origin President Rob Meyerson.

Who:

Ellen Stofan has more than 25 years of experience in space-related organizations and has a deep research background in planetary geology. She was the chief scientist at NASA and is now the John and Adrienne Mars Director at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

Mary Lynne Dittmar is president and CEO of the Coalition for Deep Space Exploration, a recognized source for policy, technical and business information in aerospace. She is a member of the National Space Council Users’ Advisory Group, the FAA’s Commercial Space Transportation Committee, and the Space Studies Board of the National Academies.

Jim Chilton is senior vice president of the Space and Launch division of Boeing Defense, Space & Security. The Space and Launch portfolio includes the International Space Station, the CST-100 Starliner commercial crew vehicle, NASA’s Space Launch System, and other areas.

Rob Meyerson is the executive producer of ASCEND and leads the Guiding Coalition. He is the founder and CEO of Delalune Space, a management consulting company focused on aerospace, mobility and technology sectors. Rob is the former president of Blue Origin. Note: Meyerson will not be attending the event but will be available for interviews.

What: LAUNCH: The Space Economy
When: Tuesday, 3 December 2019
Time: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: U.S. Chamber of Commerce
1615 H. Street NW
Washington, D.C., 20062

For more information about LAUNCH: The Space Economy hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, please visit https://www.uschamber.com/event/launch-the-space-economy

About ASCEND
A new event launched by AIAA, ASCEND is designed to drive the $1 trillion space economy forward, bringing together technical and business leaders to solve problems that affect the entire planet and beyond. The global eventis convening traditional and nontraditional players to help build the space economy. ASCEND’s inaugural event is 16–18 November 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information, please visit www.ascend.events.

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 85 countries and 95 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, aiaa.org, or follow us on Twitter @AIAA.

Citizen Astronauts from Blue Origin, SpaceX, and Virgin Galactic Commercial Space Missions to Appear Together at 2021 ASCEND in Las Vegas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 22, 2021 – Reston, Va. – Astronauts from the three different commercial space experiences that occurred in 2021 will appear on stage together in Las Vegas on Monday, 15 November, during 2021 ASCEND. ASCEND is the interdisciplinary community focused on building humanity’s off-world future faster, powered by AIAA. Confirmed speakers include:

Blue Origin New Shepard Mission NS-18 (October 2021)
- Glen de Vries, Vice-Chair, Life Sciences & Healthcare, Dassault Systèmes; and Co-Founder, Medidata
SpaceX Inspiration4 Mission (September 2021)
- Jared Isaacman, Inspiration4 Commander
- Sian Proctor, Inspiration4 Mission Pilot
Virgin Galactic Unity22 Mission (July 2021)
- Sirisha Bandla, Vice President of Government Affairs, Virgin Galactic; and member of the ASCEND Guiding Coalition

The exclusive gathering of these citizen astronauts to share firsthand accounts of their missions epitomizes the ASCEND spirit of community and global partnership. They will discuss the impact of their missions, as well as their experiences during training, flight, and post-launch. The speakers will appear in person in the following 2021 ASCEND sessions:

Opening Keynote
Speakers: Jared Isaacman, Sian Proctor
Monday, 15 November, 0730–0900 hrs PT

Lunch Plenary Session: Citizen Astronauts
Moderator: Kari Byron, Producer and Television Personality, Mythbusters, White Rabbit Project; Host, Crash Test World
Speakers: Sirisha Bandla, Glen de Vries, Jared Isaacman, Sian Proctor
Monday, 15 November, 1145–1245 hrs PT

2021 ASCEND is set for 8–10 and 15–17 November, showcasing a hybrid blend of in-person programming in Las Vegas (Caesars Forum) and Washington, D.C., and online programming on all six days.

The Public is Invited to Attend 2021 ASCEND
ASCEND is an event open to everyone who loves space. The public is invited to register now at the best rates. The full agenda and confirmed speakers are available at ascend.events.

Registration for in-person attendance is limited and only open until 10 November, to ensure all AIAA Health and Safety protocols are met.

Press Passes Available to Media
Journalists interested in covering the citizen astronauts and the full ASCEND program at Caesars Forum in Las Vegas in person should contact [email protected] for credentialing, or request an Online Press Pass here.

Media Contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

2022 ASCEND to Kick Off with NASA, The Aerospace Corporation, SpaceX, U.S. Space Force

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Broad, Bold Perspectives from Inspired Visionaries Lead the Three-Day Event in Las Vegas

August 30, 2022 – Reston, Va. – ASCEND, the world’s premier outcomes-focused, interdisciplinary space event designed to accelerate building our off-world future faster, today announced its agenda for the 2022 ASCEND apex event, 24-26 October at Caesars Forum, Las Vegas, and online. Details are available at ascend.events. Early-bird registration rates are available through midnight, Friday, 9 September; space is limited. Journalists around the world are invited to cover 2022 ASCEND; press passes are available for credentialed media by request.

Lt. Gen. Nina Armagno, Director of Staff, U.S. Space Force
James Free, Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems Development, NASA
Pam Melroy, Deputy Administrator, NASA
Todd Nygren, Senior Vice President, Engineering and Technology Group, The Aerospace Corporation
Ellen Ochoa, Astronaut; former Director, NASA Johnson Space Center
Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO, SpaceX
Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA

The three-day program is packed with speakers from leading space organizations and adjacent industries including Axiom Space, Barclays Capital, Maxar Technologies, MIT, NASA, and SpaceX, among others. During the more than 147 sessions across 16 space domain topics, speakers and attendees will tackle important issues and explore exciting opportunities in low Earth orbit and beyond, including:

Space Traffic Management and Coordination
Sustainable Space Exploration
Outpacing the Space Threat
Using Space to Protect Our Planet
A Competitive and Burgeoning Space Economy
Developing the Space Workforce of Tomorrow
The Future of Cislunar and Lunar Exploration

2022 ASCEND attendees will experience the energy of presentations by our planet’s off-world pioneers, including Fortune 500 executives, established space agency leaders, government and military officials, professional and citizen astronauts, “new space” companies, international organizations, university professors and students, and start-up CEOs. In addition to the opening speakers, 2022 ASCEND will feature over 250 speakers, including:

Bill Beckman, Director, NASA Programs, The Boeing Company
Steve “Bucky” Butow, Director, Space Portfolio, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
Mark Daley, Deputy Director, Office of Space Commerce, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Debra Facktor, Head of U.S. Space Systems, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense, Inc.
Paula Grisanti, CEO, National Stem Cell Foundation
John Guiney, Vice President, Fleet Operations Management, OneWeb
Fiona Harrison, Harold A. Rosen Professor of Physics; Kent and Joyce Kresa Leadership Chair, Division of Physics, Mathematics and Astronomy, California Institute of Technology
Amy Hopkins, President, Capella Space Federal
Kathleen Howell, Hsu Lo Distinguished Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Purdue University
Moriba Jah, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, Privateer Space
Lt. Gen. Larry D. James, USAF (Ret.), Deputy Director, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Steve Jurczyk, Co-Founder and CEO, Quantum Space LLC
Bhavya Lal, Associate Administrator, Technology, Policy, and Strategy, NASA
Joe Landon, Vice President, Advanced Programs Development, Lockheed Martin
Mark Mozena, Vice President, Government Affairs, Planet
Kursten O’Neill, Vice President, Dream Chaser Crew Program, Sierra Space
Jim Reuter, Associate Administrator, Space Technology Mission Directorate, NASA
Andrew Rush, President and COO, Redwire Space
Janice Starzyk, Vice President, Government Operations, Virgin Orbit
Erika Wagner, Senior Director, Emerging Market Development, Blue Origin
Vanessa Wyche, Director, NASA Johnson Space Center

The 2022 ASCEND program also includes unique features to engage attendees, including:

The Diverse Dozen returns. This year’s cadre of young people from 10 countries will shape the dialogue around space safety, security, and sustainability under the leadership of astrodynamicist Moriba Jah, Co-Founder and Chief Scientist, Privateer Space.
The Cyber Star Wargame will explore the implications of cybersecurity on the projection of space power.
The MICRO session tabletop exercise, “Defending Earth! What Can We Do to Stop an Asteroid Threat?” will walk through an asteroid threat scenario, following the META session, “Asteroids: Time Capsules and Terror.” It’s based in part on the Planetary Defense Interagency Tabletop Exercise conducted earlier in 2022.
Breakout workshop sessions will collect feedback to help NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate identify gaps and plan future investments.

Media contact: Rebecca B. Gray, [email protected], 804.397.5270

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.orgg, and follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

AIAA Accelerates the Future of Aviation and Space at 2024 AIAA AVIATION Forum and 2024 ASCEND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 20, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The latest aircraft, spacecraft, technologies, and missions were on display in Las Vegas, Nevada, from July 28 until August 2 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA). AIAA co-located two of its signature events – 2024 AIAA AVIATION Forum and 2024 ASCEND – in one venue, Caesars Forum, for the week. Nearly 3,800 aviation and space professionals came together, bridging the gap between aviation’s visionary concepts and tangible technological reality, while also accelerating our off-world future through collaboration.

From the stage, attendees heard more than 350 speakers including senior government officials from NASA, the National Reconnaissance Organization (NRO), the U.S. Space Force and others, as well as prominent industry leaders from companies including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman. They delivered wide ranging insights on aviation and space – from the current view of the industries, to the near-term paradigm shifts that are starting to occur in aviation, to the challenges in building a sustainable space ecosystem.

In a truly unique session designed to attract both audiences of air and space professionals, NASA showcased an unprecedented assembly of NASA technology. NASA Chief Technology Officer A.C. Charania hosted the session featuring all NASA field center chief technologists. Together they took attendees on a tour across the entire United States, sharing the unique features and focus areas of their campus, their core competencies, and their next-generation aviation and space technologies. The session is available on YouTube.

One of the hallmarks of an AIAA event is the deep technical exchange due to the vast number of technical papers presented. Nearly 1,300 papers were presented by researchers, authors, and university students during both events. Awards were presented for the best papers presented by students throughout the AIAA AVIATION Forum, based on assessments by industry professionals.

More than 75 exhibitors filled the 12,500 square-foot Expo Hall – AIAA’s largest exposition ever. The Expo Hall served as the bridge between both events’ communities, providing attendees full access to interact with the latest advanced technologies from the full industry sectors of air and space.

2024 AIAA AVIATION Forum Highlights

Increased dialogue on and demonstration of alternate aircraft propulsion – electrified aircraft, sustainable fuels, hydrogen propulsion
Introduction of autonomy and artificial intelligence (AI) to aircraft design, and accelerating the use of digital twins
Deeper looks at new and novel aviation concepts – blended-wing body concepts, hybrid electric cargo drones, rigid airships, X-planes
The challenges and opportunities around introducing electric air taxis in highly populated areas, including tackling noise problems
Anticipated flight tests of demonstrator aircraft, including supersonics

2024 ASCEND Highlights

Leveraging both government and commercial capabilities to push the frontier
Building a sustainable space economy, tapping into venture capital and building partnerships with allies and international partners
Discussions around innovation, ideas, and challenges for lunar infrastructure – landers, rovers, habitats, mining, regolith management, power sources – for Artemis missions and beyond
Exploring the opportunities to explore Mars, including discussion on Mars Sample Return missions
Pushing toward new applications of In-space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing (ISAM), robotics, and developing capabilities in cislunar space
Addressing the growing threat of space debris to orbiting assets, including human-rated spacecraft
Planning for an integrated space defense strategy to maintain U.S. leadership in space with senior defense leaders from the U.S. and its allies
Incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) in space-related applications

Space sustainability and environmentalism were tackled by this year’s ASCEND Diverse Dozen (D12) cohort. Their Op-Eds are available to download for free. This year, the D12 is supported by the Office of Space Commerce, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce helping amplify underrepresented voices as they promote messages on space sustainability.

The ASCEND program featured a panel discussion including actors from the Star Trek television series, acknowledging that science fiction engages the imaginations of today’s aerospace community. Together with aerospace industry professionals, they explored the transformative power of art, technology, and reality.

AIAA signed a memorandum of understanding with Boryung, a healthcare investment company based in Seoul, South Korea, to expand the reach of the Humans in Space (HIS) platform as the two organizations seek to foster engagement in the global space healthcare ecosystem.

Ten awards were presented to AIAA members and others from across the community, recognizing excellence in aerospace and aviation. AIAA is committed to ensuring that aerospace professionals are recognized and celebrated for their achievements, innovations, and discoveries that make the world safer, more connected, more accessible, and more prosperous.

Highlights of the sessions, speakers, and attendees were captured in the AIAA Flickr album. Session recordings from the main stages of both events are available on the AIAA YouTube channel: AIAA AVIATION Forum Playlist and 2024 ASCEND Playlist.

Plans are already underway for next year’s events in Las Vegas: 2025 AIAA AVIATION Forum, 21 – 25 July 2025, and 2025 ASCEND, 22 – 24 July 2025. Papers and sessions are invited from the aviation and space communities, as well as adjacent industries through the Call for Content which will open on 24 September 2024.

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. Visit aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

AIAA and Tripadvisor Launch “Destination: Space” to Open Up Space Tourism to New Audiences

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Includes First-Ever Tourist Review of Space from Dr. Sian Proctor

July 30, 2024 – Las Vegas – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and Tripadvisor have launched “Destination: Space,” a new content platform dedicated to space tourism, exploration, and education. “Destination: Space” aims to demystify space for the general public and make space tourism more accessible to all. The platform features Tripadvisor reviews and content from the growing community of astronauts who have travelled to space – sharing their unfiltered experiences of what it’s like to travel off planet Earth. These human stories draw from the ever-expanding community of more than 600 people who have travelled to space.

The announcement was celebrated during the 2024 ASCEND event in Las Vegas where more than 3,500 people in the aerospace community and adjacent industries are gathered this week.

In addition to reviews on traveling to space, “Destination: Space” includes links for the public to book actual space experiences. Enthusiasts can find travel information to visit space-related locations here on Earth, including museums and science centers, as well as where to see rocket launches, take advantage of STEM learning opportunities, and explore online space resources.

The First Review from Space
The first official review from space is provided by Dr. Sian “Leo” Proctor, renowned for her groundbreaking achievements as the first African American woman to pilot a spaceship, paint in space, and serve on the SpaceX Inspiration4 mission – the first all-civilian orbital mission. She became a commercial astronaut following her 22 years as a professor teaching geology, sustainability, and planetary science at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix, Arizona, and now as a geoscience professor at the Maricopa Community Colleges in Tempe, Arizona. Her humorous yet accurate review of space appears alongside videos, photos, and the familiar Tripadvisor “bubble ratings” for ambiance, location, sleep quality, and more.

A Unique Perspective
The content at “Destination: Space” includes not only reviews but also space-inspired itineraries, interactive educational STEM programs, and more, catering to those who wish to experience space here on Earth – for fun, inspiration, and education. This additional information is provided by experts and enthusiasts working in the space community. Reviews from other space travelers – Victor L. Vescovo and Marty Allen – are included, with more to be added as increasing numbers of people explore the final frontier.

Making Space Accessible to More People
Adam Ochman from Tripadvisor commented on this exciting development, “We are thrilled to launch ‘Destination: Space,’ where we aim to bridge the gap between Earth and the cosmos, providing our community with engaging and educational content that fuels curiosity and inspires future generations of space travelers.”

“AIAA is dedicated to accelerating humanity’s future in space through fostering innovative collaborations inside and outside of the space industry. We are thrilled to work closely with Tripadvisor, a global online travel market leader, to promote space as an increasingly accessible destination,” said Brian Talbot, AIAA vice president of revenue development, marketing and communications. “With the launch of ‘Destination: Space,’ Tripadvisor joins the emerging ecosystem of non-aerospace companies and new industries that now see space as an opportunity.”

AIAA Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

2024 AIAA David W. Thompson Lecture in Space Commerce Presented by Sir Martin Sweeting During 2024 ASCEND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 8, 2024 – Reston, Va. – AIAA is pleased to announce the 2024 AIAA David W. Thompson Lectureship in Space Commerce is awarded to Sir Martin Sweeting, Executive Chairman, Surrey Satellite Technology, Ltd. (SSTL) and Distinguished Professor, Surrey Space Centre, University of Surrey. The lecture, “Small Satellites – The Foundation of NewSpace,” will be presented Tuesday, 30 July, 12 p.m. PT, during 2024 ASCEND, 30 July – 1 August, Las Vegas.

Sweeting’s lecture will trace 20 years of small satellites’ impact on life on Earth and look toward future developments. The emergence in the early 2000s of low cost and rapid response, yet operationally capable small satellites initiated a fundamental gear-change in the economics of space. Two decades later, small satellites are mainstream and the basis of mega constellations in low Earth orbit providing communications and Earth observation services with the private sector now playing a dominant role. Recent developments in launchers, both large and small, have accelerated this trend, often referred to as “NewSpace,” enabling far wider participation by nations and commercial companies. The next generation of launchers on the horizon will stimulate the next gear-change in space, with dramatic implications for industry and society.

In 1979, with a Ph.D. in radio engineering from the University of Surrey, Sweeting pioneered rapid-response, low-cost, and highly capable small satellites utilizing modern consumer electronics to change the economics of space. In 1985, he founded a university spin-off company, SSTL, that has designed, built, launched, and operated in orbit over 70 nano-, micro-, and mini-satellites for customers worldwide providing missions for communications, Earth observation, space science, and the demonstration of active space debris removal techniques. Sweeting was knighted in 2006 by HM the Late Queen and is a Fellow of the Royal Society, the Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Physics. He has received numerous international awards, and has been identified as one of the UK’s 20 most influential engineers. He is regarded as the “father of small satellites” that led to NewSpace.

This lectureship recognizes a prominent industry leader or senior management team who has created or grown a space-related business and generated substantial economic benefits and market value. It was endowed by Orbital ATK to commemorate the long and distinguished career of commercial space pioneer, David W. Thompson. The lecture will be delivered in person, as well as recorded and available on demand.

Registration for 2024 ASCEND is open. Press passes are available for credentialed media by request.

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
AIAA is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org or follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and visit ascend.events or follow ASCEND on LinkedIn, X/Twitter, and Instagram.

2024 AIAA von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics on OSIRIS-REx Mission Presented by Dante S. Lauretta During 2024 ASCEND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2024 – Reston, Va. – AIAA is pleased to announce the 2024 AIAA von Kármán Lectureship in Astronautics is awarded to Dante S. Lauretta, Regents Professor, University of Arizona, Tucson. The lecture, “Unlocking the Secrets of Our Solar System’s History: The OSIRIS-REx Journey,” will be presented Tuesday, 30 July, 10:45 a.m. PT, during 2024 ASCEND, 30 July – 1 August, Las Vegas.

Lauretta’s lecture delves into the challenges, discoveries, and scientific implications of OSIRIS-REx as it unveils the ancient secrets of our solar system’s history. Lauretta will discuss the mission’s planning and execution, from the spacecraft’s voyage to asteroid Bennu’s surface to the precision required to retrieve a pristine sample of this celestial time capsule and deliver it to Earth for scientific analysis. He will explore the groundbreaking findings from the returned sample, which are already revolutionizing our comprehension of solar system formation and evolution. This lecture not only showcases human ingenuity and perseverance, but also celebrates the collaborative ethos driving the forefront of space exploration.

After receiving B.S and B.A. degrees from the University of Arizona, he obtained his Ph.D. in Earth and Planetary Sciences from Washington University in St. Louis in 1997. Transitioning to Arizona State University for postdoctoral work, Lauretta embarked on crucial research analyzing the mineral composition and formation processes of meteorites and asteroids. His pivotal move to the University of Arizona in 2001 marked the beginning of his most significant contributions as a faculty member within the historic Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. Lauretta’s exceptional work in cosmochemistry led to his selection as the principal investigator for OSIRIS-REx in 2011. The mission launched in 2016. The Lockheed Martin-built spacecraft reached Bennu in 2018, collected a sample in 2020, and commenced its return to Earth in 2021. The samples landed on Earth on 24 September 2023.

Named in honor of Theodore von Kármán, a world-famous authority on aerospace sciences, this lectureship honors an individual who has performed notably and distinguished themselves technically in the field of astronautics. The lecture will be delivered in person at 2024 ASCEND, as well as recorded and available on demand.

AIAA is committed to ensuring that aerospace professionals are celebrated for their achievements, innovations, and discoveries that make the world safer, more connected, more accessible, and more prosperous. Visit AIAA’s Honors and Awards Program for more information.

Registration for 2024 ASCEND is open. Journalists from around the world are invited to cover 2024 ASCEND; press passes are available for credentialed media by request.

Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
AIAA is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

2023 ASCEND to Feature NASA’s William H. Pickering Lecture Showcasing Climate Science Advances

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 5, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the 2023 William H. Pickering Lecture, “Observing Earth’s Precious Water from Space,” which will showcase the advances in Earth’s climate science that are being made possible through the Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) Mission. The lecture is the featured evening session, 1830 hrs PT, Tuesday, 24 October, during 2023 ASCEND at Caesars Forum, Las Vegas.

Registration for the 2023 ASCEND event is open now. Journalists from around the world are invited to cover 2023 ASCEND; press passes are available for credentialed media by request.

2023 William H. Pickering Lecture: “Observing Earth’s Precious Water from Space”

Lecturers: Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, Ocean physics program manager, NASA Headquarters, and Parag Vaze, project manager, SWOT Mission, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Shiffer will describe the SWOT science, calibration, and validation efforts along with the applications potential that SWOT enables. Vaze will describe the challenges of the development, implementation, and operations of one of the most complex observing systems for observing Earth’s precious waters.
Tuesday, 24 October, 1830 hrs PT
This lecture will be delivered in person at 2023 ASCEND in Las Vegas and will be recorded and available on demand.

The 2023 William H. Pickering Lecture is about a space mission that will address some of Earth’s most pressing climate change questions of our time by informing decisions about our daily lives and livelihoods. The SWOT Mission was developed jointly by NASA and the French space agency, CNES, with contributions from the UK and Canadian space agencies. Using state-of-the-art “radar interferometry” technology, SWOT is measuring the elevation of water to observe millions of lakes and wetlands with surface areas 250 m2 and thousands of rivers whose width exceeds 100 m, while detecting ocean features with unprecedented resolution, accuracy, and spatial coverage. The primary science payload, a novel Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn), is the first in-flight demonstration of wide-swath (2, 50Km swaths) SAR interferometry for more accurate and comprehensive mapping of Earth’s ocean and surface water from space.

The SWOT Mission is expected to revolutionize hydrology and oceanography, providing a set of observations for nearly all surface waters on planet Earth, allowing scientists to determine changing volumes of water across the globe. SWOT will also significantly advance climate and ocean sciences by detecting ocean features with 10 times better resolution than present technologies. The higher resolution will reveal small-scale ocean features that contribute to the Earth’s fundamental cycles of heat, energy, carbon, moisture, and nutrients.

Measurements taken by SWOT are key to understanding surface water availability, informing water-resource management, preparing for important water-related hazards such as floods and droughts, improving ocean circulation forecasts, and benefiting ship and offshore commercial operations, along with coastal planning activities such as flood prediction.

Named for the former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director William H. Pickering, the lectureship honors his initiation and leadership of America’s robotic scientific space program, from Explorer I in 1958 through the development of the Viking Mars orbiters and the Voyager outer planet and interstellar missions.

AIAA Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

2024 ASCEND to Feature Europa Clipper Mission in William H. Pickering Lecture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 8, 2024 – Reston, Va. – AIAA is pleased to announce the 2024 William H. Pickering Lecture, “Europa Clipper: First NASA Mission to an Ocean World,” by Bonnie Buratti, Deputy Project Scientist, Europa Clipper Mission, 31 July, 12 p.m. PT, during 2024 ASCEND, 30 July – 1 August, Las Vegas.

As NASA’s first detailed exploration of an ocean world with an overarching goal of searching for a habitable zone, Europa Clipper is scheduled to launch in 2024. Europa is one of Jupiter’s four moons discovered by Galileo in 1610. It almost certainly harbors a salty ocean underneath a thick ice crust. This ocean has all the requirements for a habitable zone where primitive life could potentially thrive: liquid water, energy in the form of chemical potentials, and organic molecules. Europa Clipper also will study the geology, interior, and composition of Europa. Buratti’s lecture will showcase the mission’s objectives and its role in the search for life beyond Earth. This lecture will be delivered in person, recorded, and available on demand.

Buratti is Senior Research Scientist, Principal, and Fellow at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. An expert on planetary surfaces, she has held leadership roles on several NASA flight projects, including Cassini to Saturn and New Horizons to Pluto. She is a recipient of the Carl Sagan Medal for Excellence in Public Communication and the Gerard P. Kuiper Prize for outstanding lifetime achievement in the field of planetary science. She is an elected Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and the American Astronomical Society, and author of over 250 papers and the popular book, Worlds Fantastic, Worlds Familiar (Cambridge).

Named for former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director William H. Pickering, the lectureship honors his initiation and leadership of America’s robotic scientific space program, from Explorer I in 1958 through the development of the Viking Mars orbiters and the Voyager outer planet and interstellar missions.

Registration for 2024 ASCEND is open; press credentials are available here.

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

About AIAA
AIAA is the world’s largest aerospace technical society. With nearly 30,000 individual members from 91 countries, and 100 corporate members, AIAA brings together industry, academia, and government to advance engineering and science in aviation, space, and defense. For more information, visit aiaa.org or follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram, and visit ascend.events or follow ASCEND on LinkedIn, X/Twitter, and Instagram.

2023 ASCEND Announces Livestream Sessions Beginning Monday, October 23

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 20, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) today announced five sessions during 2023 ASCEND will be shared via livestream on its website, ascend.events, providing complimentary access to stellar content featured during the event, 23–25 October, Caesars Forum, Las Vegas. The livestream recordings will be made available for on-demand viewing at ascend.events/livestream later each day. ASCEND is the world’s premier outcomes-focused, interdisciplinary space event designed to accelerate building our off-world future.

The sessions to be shared via livestream during 2023 ASCEND include:

Monday, 23 October, 0800–0930 hrs PT
MACRO-01: From Dreaming to Doing: Utilizing Creativity and Imagination to Accelerate our Off-World Future
Speakers:

Lieutenant General Nina Armagno, U.S. Space Force (Ret.)
Kara Cunzeman, Director of Strategic Foresight, Center for Space Policy and Strategy, The Aerospace Corporation
Debra Facktor, Head of U.S. Space Systems, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense
Dan Hawk, Principal Scientist, United First Nations Planetary Defense
Jay Kim, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Boryung
Afua Richardson, Artist
Daniel Suarez, New York Times Bestselling Science Fiction Author
Julie Van Kleeck, ASCEND Executive Producer, AIAA Space Domain Lead

The opening program will explore what it means to create and inspire, and why systematic thinking about the future is essential for building humanity’s sustainable off-world futures. We will hear voices from the future and learn from established leaders about how to mobilize organizations and empower individual agency to get there.

Monday, 23 October, 1245–1345 hrs PT
SPEC-14: 2023 AIAA David W. Thompson Lecture in Space Commerce: “Connecting Space to Earth”
Speaker: George Whitesides, Partner, Convective Capital

The 2023 AIAA David W. Thompson Lecture in Space Commerce has been awarded to George T. Whitesides, Partner, Convective Capital. Previously, Whitesides served as Chief of Staff for NASA in the Obama Administration, and later as CEO of Virgin Galactic, which over 10 years he led to space operations and a public company listing. He co-founded Megafire Action, an advocacy organization that supports solutions to the wildfire crisis, and is a partner at Convective Capital, a firm that invests in firetech companies. He is the cofounder of AstroAccess, a non-profit organization dedicated to encouraging universal design and accessibility principles in spaceflight.

Whitesides’ lecture, “Connecting Space to Earth,” will address this moment in time when aerospace lessons and solutions can help solve the world’s greatest challenges.

Tuesday, 24 October, 0800–0930 hrs PT
MACRO-02 Session

Award Presentation: 2023 AIAA von Braun Award for Excellence in Space Program Management to John M. Grunsfeld, Endless Frontier Associates LLC

Keynote: NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, “Exploration Enabled: Creating a Framework to Ensure Responsible Access for All”

Panel: Accelerating Sustainable Space Exploration Through Global Cooperation, including panelists:

Peter Gräf, Director for Applications and Science, German Space Agency (DLR)
Lt. Gen. Larry James, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), Deputy Director, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Daniel Neuenschwander, Director for Human and Robotic Exploration, European Space Agency (ESA)
Shri M. Sankaran, Distinguished Scientist and Director, U R Rao Satellite Center (URSC), Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
Hiroshi Sasaki, Vice President and Director General for Human Spaceflight Technology Directorate, JAXA

Tuesday morning will open with an award presentation recognizing aerospace excellence. The presentations will include a keynote address from NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy, followed by a panel discussion featuring space agency leaders from around the world. They will address how their capabilities and technical advancements are being applied to solve the societal problems across the globe; how they are partnering across the spectrum with other national agencies, commercial entities, and private companies; and what they are investing in for the future.

Tuesday, 24 October, 1830–1930 hrs PT
SPEC-32: 2023 William H. Pickering Lecture: “Observing Earth’s Precious Water from Space”
Speakers:

Parag Vaze, Project Manager, Surface Water Ocean Topography (SWOT) Mission, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Nadya Vinogradova Shiffer, Program Scientist and Manager, Physical Oceanography Program, Earth Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA

The 2023 William H. Pickering Lecture will explore a space mission that will address some of Earth’s most pressing climate change questions of our time by informing decisions about our daily lives and livelihoods. The SWOT Mission was developed jointly by NASA and the French space agency, CNES, with contributions from the UK and Canadian space agencies. Using state-of-the-art “radar interferometry” technology, SWOT is measuring the elevation of water to observe millions of lakes and wetlands with surface areas 250 m2 and thousands of rivers whose width exceeds 100 m, while detecting ocean features with unprecedented resolution, accuracy, and spatial coverage. The primary science payload, a novel Ka-band Radar Interferometer (KaRIn), is the first in-flight demonstration of wide-swath (2, 50Km swaths) SAR interferometry for more accurate and comprehensive mapping of Earth’s ocean and surface water from space.

Wednesday, 25 October, 0800–0930 hrs PT
MACRO-03: What Has Space Done for Me Lately?
Panelists:

Bryan Bender, Vice President, Communications Strategy, Strategic Marketing Innovations, Inc. (former Senior National Correspondent and Defense Editor, POLITICO)
Dan Dumbacher, AIAA Executive Director
Emma Louden, Astrophysics Ph.D. Candidate, Yale University
Shawna Pandya, Director, International Institute for Astronautical Sciences Space Medicine Group

“Why explore space when we have so many challenges on Earth?” This is an all-too-common refrain when it comes to justifying space exploration, with many answers. On the one hand, humanity has benefited tremendously from space-based technologies, satellites, and exploration; on the other hand, what if we took a more directed approach toward solving humanity’s greatest challenges? Or perhaps we aren’t investing in space enough? Watch as our panel of experts discuss the various contributions space-based technologies have made toward improving day-to-day life on Earth and address some of the common arguments against continued investment in space development and exploration.

In addition, the following session will be recorded and will be available on demand at ascend.events/livestream:

Monday, 23 October, 1130–1230 hrs PT
(not available via livestream, only on-demand viewing at ascend.events/livestream)
SPEC-13: 2023 AIAA von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics: “Celebrating a Century of Kármán’s Momentum-Integral and Space-Reductive Approaches: Applications in Rocketry and Beyond”
Speaker: Joseph Majdalani, Francis Chair of Excellence and Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Auburn University

The 2023 AIAA von Kármán Lectureship in Astronautics has been awarded to Joseph Majdalani, Francis Chair of Excellence and Professor of Aerospace Engineering, Auburn University. Named in honor of Theodore von Kármán, a world-famous authority on aerospace sciences, the lectureship honors an individual who has performed notably and distinguished themselves technically in the field of astronautics.

Registration to attend 2023 ASCEND in Las Vegas is still open. Journalists from around the world are invited to cover 2023 ASCEND in person; press passes are available for credentialed media by request.

Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell

2023 ASCEND Adds Speakers to Three-Day Event

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 12, 2023 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) today announced more speakers who have been added to the three-day program at 2023 ASCEND, 23–25 October, Caesars Forum, Las Vegas. ASCEND is the world’s premier outcomes-focused, interdisciplinary space event designed to accelerate building our off-world future.

These newly confirmed speakers cut across the international, civil, commercial, and national security space sectors, as well as adjacent industries, including:

Dean Bellamy, Executive Vice President, National Security Space, Redwire
John Couluris, Vice President, Lunar Permanence, Blue Origin
Stefanie Countryman, Director, BioServe Space Technologies
Erik Daehler, Vice President, Orbital Systems and Services, Sierra Space
Walt Engelund, Deputy Associate Administrator for Programs, Space Technology Mission Directorate, NASA
Ron Garan, CEO, ispace U.S.
Bill Gerstenmaier, Vice President of Build and Flight Reliability, SpaceX
Mary Guenther, Director of Space Policy, Commercial Spaceflight Federation
Daniel Hastings, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Eric Ingram, CEO, SCOUT Space, Inc.
Aarti Matthews, Director, Starship Crew and Cargo Programs, SpaceX
Ryan McDevitt, CEO, Benchmark Space Systems
Ralph McNutt, Chief Scientist, Space Science, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
Michelle Munk, Chief Architect, Space Technology Mission Directorate, NASA
John O’Meara, Chief Scientist, W. M. Keck Observatory
Donna Roberts, Deputy Chief Scientist, ISS National Laboratory
Even Rogers, CEO, True Anomaly
Arun Sharma, Assistant Professor, Cedars-Sinai
Matthew Shouppe, Chief Commercial Officer, Kayhan Space
Nathan Simington, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Registration for the 2023 ASCEND event is open now. Journalists from around the world are invited to cover 2023 ASCEND; press passes are available for credentialed media by request.

AIAA Media Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270 cell