Tag: Las Vegas

Future of Aviation: Where Digital Capabilities Fuel Human-Led Innovation and Expertise

FROM THE INSTITUTE
It’s the year 2050 and in city centers like New York, people are immersed in “vertical living,” with minimal need to go to a surface street to get places. This futuristic vision was how Dr. Tim Persons, a principal and AI leader at PwC with more than three decades of AI and digital experience, opened this year’s AIAA AVIATION Forum at Caesar’s Forum in Las Vegas. “This is science fiction – the question is, how do we convert it to science fact?” he challenged the audience.
Full Story (Aerospace America)

2025 AIAA David W. Thompson Lecture in Space Commerce Presented by Jamie M. Morin, The Aerospace Corporation, During 2025 ASCEND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 27, 2025 – Reston, Va. – AIAA is pleased to announce the 2025 AIAA David W. Thompson Lectureship in Space Commerce is awarded to Jamie M. Morin, Vice President, Defense Strategic Space, and Executive Director, Center for Space Policy and Strategy, The Aerospace Corporation. The lecture, “Accelerating Space and Defense Innovation Through Savvy Policy,” will be presented Tuesday, 22 July, 11:45 a.m. PT, during 2025 ASCEND, 22–24 July, Las Vegas. The lecture will be delivered in person, as well as recorded and available on demand at aiaa.org.

Registration for 2025 ASCEND is open now. Journalists can request a Press Pass online.

The ability of the United States to advance its leadership in the space sector depends on harnessing the combined energy of both privately-financed, commercially-oriented firms as well as traditional government-led programs. However, there are significant obstacles to doing this at scale.

In today’s space domain, defining a company as commercial is ambiguous when that entity also serves as a government contractor. Commercial products and services benefit both commercial and government sectors, and income from government partnerships enables commercial players to contribute to important issues like climate change and sustainable agriculture. The democratization of space and unique dynamics of the space environment create risks for commercial actors. Indiscriminate threats to national security systems also pose risks to commercial systems. These factors amplify the need for greater collaboration between commercial actors and the U.S. government. When expanding our presence in space, leveraging the commercial sector is advantageous for addressing rapidly developing challenges.

Building on the research of the Center for Space Policy and Strategy, Morin’s lecture will propose a framework for policy and execution to create this powerful hybrid, which is a timely topic given the rise of commercial space and the emphasis on bringing non-traditional contractors into the defense and space ecosystem.

Morin is vice president of Defense Strategic Space at The Aerospace Corporation. He leads technical support to the senior-most levels of the Department of Defense and Department of the Air Force, including the U.S. Space Force headquarters, as well as to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and terrestrial combatant commands. Morin is an AIAA Associate Fellow.

Morin also is executive director of Aerospace’s Center for Space Policy and Strategy, which provides objective analysis to ensure well-informed, technically defensible, and forward-looking space policy across the civil, military, intelligence, and commercial space sectors. He orchestrates the Center’s extensive series of publications, events, and multimedia products to shape the future of the U.S. space enterprise.

Prior to joining Aerospace, Morin served as director of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) for the Department of Defense. Earlier, he served for five years as the assistant secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management and Comptroller), and for a year as acting under secretary of the Air Force.

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.

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 www.aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter.

About The Aerospace Corporation
The Aerospace Corporation is a leading architect for the nation’s space programs, advancing capabilities that outpace threats to the country’s national security while nurturing innovative technologies to further a new era of space commercialization and exploration. Aerospace’s national workforce of more than 4,600 employees provides objective technical expertise and thought leadership to solve the hardest problems in space and assure mission success for space systems and space vehicles. For more information, visit www.aerospace.org. Follow us on LinkedIn and X: @AerospaceCorp.

AIAA to Present Prestigious Awards at 2025 AIAA AVIATION Forum and 2025 ASCEND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 25, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce the recipients of technical and management excellence awards to be presented on 22 July during the 2025 AIAA AVIATION Forum and 2025 ASCEND in Las Vegas.

“We are thrilled to celebrate these exceptional individuals who have advanced the aerospace sector,” said AIAA CEO Clay Mowry. “Chosen by their peers, these remarkable professionals exemplify the highest standards of our industry. Their dedicated work consistently drives progress in aerospace innovation.”

Registration for both events is open now. Journalists can request a Press Pass online. For more information about the AIAA Honors and Awards program, contact Patricia A. Carr at [email protected].

2025 AIAA Aerospace Excellence Award
The award acknowledges one or more recent and unique group achievements in the aerospace community that are paving the way for the future of aerospace and inspiring our youth to pursue careers in aerospace.

  • SpaceX
    Nick Cummings, Senior Director of Government Systems Advanced Development
    (Accepting on behalf of SpaceX)
    For demonstrating controlled landings of the Starship Super Heavy booster by catching it with arms on the launch tower and accelerating the development of the space economy through this fully reusable launch vehicle.

2025 AIAA Aeroacoustics Award
This award is presented for an outstanding technical or scientific achievement resulting from an individual’s contribution to the field of aircraft community noise reduction.

  • Anastasios “Tasos” Lyrintzis
    Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
    For seminal contributions to aeroacoustics, including the introduction of surface integral methods for the extension of CFD results to the far-field.

2025 AIAA Aerodynamics Award
This award is presented for meritorious achievement in the field of applied aerodynamics, recognizing notable contributions in the development, application, and evaluation of aerodynamic concepts and methods.

  • Richard A. Wahls
    NASA Headquarters
    For outstanding leadership and technical contributions advancing high-confidence computational and experimental aerodynamic tools for prediction and analysis of airplane configurations and technologies.

2025 AIAA Aircraft Design Award
This award is presented to an individual or team for an original concept or career contributions leading to a significant advancement in aircraft design or design technology.

  • Isabelle Bloy, Thierry Diez, and Ahmet Kiryaman
    A321XLR Team Airbus
    For contributions to the Airbus A321XLR, a narrowbody aircraft opening long-haul services to airlines, successfully launched in 2019 with an entry into service in 2024.

2025 AIAA Fluid Dynamics Award
This award is presented for outstanding contributions to the understanding of the behavior of liquids and gases in motion as related to need in aeronautics and astronautics.

  • Ari Glezer
    Georgia Institute of Technology
    For groundbreaking contributions to fundamental understanding, application, and invention of actuation strategies for active flow control.

2025 AIAA Ground Testing Award
This award is presented for outstanding achievement in the development or effective utilization of technology, procedures, facilities, or modeling techniques for flight simulation, space simulation, propulsion testing, aerodynamic testing, or other ground testing associated with aeronautics and astronautics.

  • Nicole L. Key
    Purdue University
    For outstanding contributions to the rigorous testing of advanced high-speed compressor and fan technologies, with application of state-of-the-art diagnostic methods.

2025 AIAA Hap Arnold Award for Excellence in Aeronautical Program Management
This award is presented to an individual for outstanding contributions in the management of a significant aeronautical or aeronautical related program or project.

  • Richard A. Rezabek
    Lockheed Martin (retired)
    For outstanding leadership and management of the X-35 throughout the technically innovative, challenging, safe, and successful design, development, and flight test.

2025 AIAA Losey Atmospheric Sciences Award
This award is presented in recognition of outstanding contributions to the atmospheric sciences as applied to the advancement of aeronautics and astronautics.

  • Philippe Villedieu
    ONERA
    For distinguished contributions to the advancement of aeronautics through research, leadership, and teaching in the atmospheric science of ice crystal and supercooled liquid icing.

2025 AIAA Plasmadynamics and Lasers Award
This award is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the understanding of the physical properties and dynamical behavior of matter in the plasma state and lasers as related to aeronautics and astronautics.

  • Mark A. Cappelli
    Stanford University
    For impactful computational and experimental research in plasma flow control, plasma assisted combustion, spacecraft electric propulsion, laser diagnostics, and the mentoring of future aerospace leaders.

2025 AIAA Thermophysics Award
This award is presented for an outstanding singular or sustained technical or scientific contribution by an individual in thermophysics, specifically as related to the study and application of the properties and mechanisms involved in thermal energy transfer and the study of environmental effects on such properties and mechanisms.

  • Deborah Ann Levin
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
    In recognition of her pioneering work into deriving new thermo-physical insights into complex, multiscale high-speed flows using particle kinetic simulation approaches.

2025 AIAA von Braun Award for Excellence in Space Program Management
This award gives national recognition to an individual(s) for outstanding contributions in the management of a significant space or space-related program or project.

  • Thomas H. Zurbuchen
    ETH Zurich
    For exemplary leadership of NASA’s science program and its successful civilization-scale science missions, including the James Webb Space Telescope, Mars 2020, and Parker Solar Probe.

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 www.aiaa.org, and follow AIAA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter.

AIAA Welcomes ISS National Laboratory to 2025 ASCEND

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Additional Sessions Will Showcase the Growing Low Earth Orbit Ecosystem

June 23, 2025 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space® (CASIS), manager of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, announced they are expanding programming for the upcoming ASCEND event this summer, 22–24 July, in Las Vegas.

This announcement comes following the discontinuation of the ISS National Laboratory’s flagship event, the ISS Research and Development Conference (ISSRDC), originally planned for 28–31 July, Seattle, Wash. ISSRDC was designed to address pressing research and development challenges through space-based inquiry. ASCEND will now serve the broader space and microgravity community in one powerful event.

ASCEND Welcomes ISS National Lab and its Community in July
2025 ASCEND will now offer several high-impact sessions from the planned ISSRDC program. The new content will highlight how the space station continues to provide a valuable platform for research and technology development that benefits humanity and enables a robust and sustainable market in low Earth orbit (LEO). More information on sessions will be announced shortly.

“We warmly welcome the broader ISS National Lab communities to ASCEND. It’s a natural evolution to the ASCEND program, further showcasing the cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs in low Earth orbit. It will be an unparalleled experience for the entire space community,” said Clay Mowry, chief executive officer, AIAA. “We invite those who were planning to attend ISSRDC to discover ASCEND in a bold new way.”

ASCEND | 22-24 July 2025 | Las Vegas
ASCEND | 22-24 July 2025 | Las Vegas

Registration for 2025 ASCEND is available with early-bird rates through 23 June. Journalists can request a Press Pass online.

“As we mark a pivotal moment for the space station and the LEO economy, we’re thrilled to expand ASCEND programming to showcase the ISS National Lab community,” said Ray Lugo, chief executive officer, ISS National Lab. “Over the years, ISSRDC has built deeply engaged user, investor, and partner communities, and ASCEND will allow our communities to significantly build upon the scientific discoveries, commercial innovations, and relationships in a more expansive forum, as we showcase the impact of space-based research and its impacts on humanity and commerce alike.”

Since 2020, ASCEND has promoted 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. Lockheed Martin is the premier sponsor of ASCEND. For the most updated program information, visit ascend.events and follow ASCEND on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X/Twitter.

AIAA Contact: Rebecca Gray, [email protected], 804-397-5270
ISS National Lab Contact: Patrick O’Neill, [email protected], 904-806-0035

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. Visit www.aiaa.org or follow us: X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory
The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory® allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space® (CASIS®) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.

2025 ASCEND to Accelerate Our Off-World Future

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 9, 2025 – Reston, Va. – AIAA announced today a powerful lineup of speakers who will take the stage at 2025 ASCEND, 22–24 July, Caesars Forum, Las Vegas. The three-day event will address the most important opportunities and mission-critical challenges that come with the growing pace of activity in space.

“We’re thrilled to once again welcome the global aerospace community to ASCEND. It’s the most dynamic time in space in the last 30 years,” said AIAA CEO Clay Mowry. “ASCEND is where we discuss the critical topics today to ensure the ongoing safe, secure, and prosperous uses of space. This year’s program is sure to generate powerful dialogue among the broad spectrum of attendees including space users, investors, policymakers, innovators, and more.”

Powered by AIAA, ASCEND is the world’s premier outcomes-focused, interdisciplinary space event designed to accelerate building our off-world future. Over 200 industry luminaries from across the civil, commercial, and national security space sectors, adjacent industries, and the next-generation workforce are featured as speakers. Confirmed speakers include:

  • Tejpaul Bhatia, Chief Executive Officer, Axiom Space
  • Maj. Gen. Steven “Bucky” Butow, USAF, Military Deputy of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), Office of the Secretary of Defense
  • Robert Carlisle, CEO and Co-Founder, Argo Space
  • Dave Cavossa, President, Commercial Space Federation (CSF)
  • Carissa Christensen, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, BryceTech*
  • Tim Crain, Chief Technology Officer, Intuitive Machines
  • Israel Figueroa, Director, National Security Programs, Firefly Aerospace
  • Kelli Furrer, Chief Revenue Officer & Chief Marketing Officer, Firefly Aerospace
  • Mike Gold, President, Civil & International Space Business, Redwire Space
  • Chris Lay, Co-Founding Partner, Leonid Capital Partners
  • Mairead Levison, Deputy Director, Space ISAC
  • Jamie Morin, Vice President, Defense Strategic Space, The Aerospace Corporation
  • Sho Nakanose, Founder and CEO, GITAI
  • Shawna Pandya, Director, Space Medicine Group, International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS)*
  • John Reed, Chief Rocket Scientist, United Launch Alliance (ULA)*
  • Lee Rosen, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, ThinkOrbital Inc.
  • Matthew Weinzierl, Senior Associate Dean and Chair, MBA Program, Harvard Business School*
  • Col. Bill Woolf, USAF (Ret.), President and Chief Executive Officer, Space Force Association (SFA)
  • Col. Matthew Wroten, USSF, U.S. Space Command

*Member of the 2025 ASCEND Guiding Coalition

Experts from NASA will provide wide-ranging updates on a number of timely topics including the Human Research Program, future procurement strategies, and exploration missions to the moon, Mars, and deep space.

Deep Technical Content Scheduled

AIAA events are well known for the depth of technical content presented. Over 200 technical presentations and collaborative sessions are scheduled for 2025 ASCEND.

Vital Interactive Learning Planned

Several workshops are scheduled for valuable in-depth learning opportunities. Topics include:

  • Lessons Learned, Forward Path, and Collaboration from the Oxygen from Regolith (O2fR) Collaborative Systems Interface Workshop
  • Empowering the Next Generation: Creating a Circular Space Economy
  • Why Learning the Language of Business Can Increase the Likelihood of Funding Request Approval
  • Cislunar & Lunar Ecosystem and Economics Workshop
  • AstroTactics: Wargaming Space Assets
  • Collaborative Identification of the Foundations, Formats, and Functions in the Emerging Field of Space Science Communication

Early-Bird Registration Rates Available

Registration for the event is open with early-bird rates ending 23 June. Journalists can request a Press Pass online.

Since 2020, ASCEND has promoted 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. Lockheed Martin is the premier sponsor of ASCEND. For the most updated program information, visit ascend.events and follow ASCEND on LinkedIn, Instagram, and X/Twitter.

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 www.aiaa.org, or follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Future of Flight Takes Center Stage at 2025 AIAA AVIATION Forum

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 3, 2025 – Reston, Va. – AIAA announced its program for the 2025 AIAA AVIATION Forum, 21–25 July, Caesars Forum, Las Vegas. The five-day event will focus on the theme, “Navigating the Future: Sustainability, Safety, and Innovation.”

“We’re thrilled to bring together the aviation industry during this time of unprecedented transformation,” said AIAA CEO Clay Mowry. “As the industry grows and evolves, it’s crucial to ensure the next generation of air transportation systems are safe and efficient. This event is mission essential for aviation professionals in industry, government, and academia—it’s where the future of aviation takes shape.”

Educational, Interactive, Mission-Critical Program Planned
From the main stage, attendees will learn about the innovative technologies and services that  are driving efficient growth in civil and military aviation. The lineup of speakers and panelists represent the leading aviation agencies, companies, and universities from around the world. They will showcase groundbreaking capabilities that are redefining what’s possible in flight – from sustainable aviation fuels and electric propulsion to advanced air mobility and hypersonics.

AIAA forums are well known for the depth of technical content presented. The technical program will feature over 1,200 presentations spanning more than 20 research topics, including fluid dynamics, applied aerodynamics, air transportation systems, thermophysics, and multidisciplinary design optimization. More than a dozen technical workshops are scheduled, providing attendees with valuable in-depth learning opportunities. Attendees also can participate in the AIAA/CEAS Aeroacoustics Conference during the week. In addition, the FlightLab sessions include important content from the aviation community submitted on a range of timely and important topics.

Confirmed speakers from industry, government, and academia across the aviation community include:

  • Michael Berube – Deputy Assistant Secretary for Sustainable Transportation & Fuels, U.S. Department of Energy
  • Yemaya Bordain – President of the Americas, Daedalean AI
  • Sergio Cecutta – Founder and Partner, SMG Consulting
  • Jan de Regt – Director, Advanced Aviation Systems, Flight Safety Foundation
  • Lt. Col. David Dunwoody – Deputy Director Data & Analytics Enablement, National Defence of Canada
  • Michael Dyment – Managing Partner, NEXA Capital Partners
  • Roberto Guerrero – Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Operational Energy
  • Rafferty Jackson – Principal, Jack Industries
  • Greg Feith, former Senior Air Safety Investigator, National Transportation Safety Board
  • Natasha Neogi – Senior Technologist for Assured Intelligent Flight Systems, NASA
  • Linda O’Brien – Vice President and Chief Engineer, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
  • Alain Siebert – Chief Technology and Strategy, SESAR
  • Walter A. Silva – Senior Research Scientist, NASA Langley Research Center
  • Michael Sinnett – Senior Vice President, Product Strategy, Product Development and Development Programs, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
  • Akbar Sultan, Director, Airspace Operations and Safety Program, NASA
  • Lt. Col. Taylor Wilson – Commander, 40th Test Flight Squadron, U.S. Air Force

Registration for the forum is open, with early-bird rates ending 23 June. Journalists can request a Press Pass online. For the most updated program information, visit www.aiaa.org/aviation.

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 www.aiaa.org or follow AIAA on X/Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Advanced Air Mobility, AI Crucial Topics Planned for 2025 AIAA AVIATION Forum

By Jeremy Wang, Co-founder and COO, Ribbit

The AIAA AVIATION Forum is the venue to tackle both longstanding challenges from detect-and-avoid – to emerging trends like how we’re dealing with decarbonization – combined with autonomy and sustainability coming together on the same platforms.

The event is regarded as the forefront of aviation business, research, development, and technology. This year’s theme, “Navigating the Future: Sustainability, Safety, and Innovation.” I am particularly excited that the program we’ve designed promises to deliver insights about the future of advanced air mobility (AAM) and autonomy.

We expect over 2,500 aviation professionals from academia, industry and government to attend the 2025 AIAA AVIATION Forum on 21–25 July in Las Vegas. 

Convergence of Autonomy and Sustainability

An example of convergence is Joby Aviation’s landmark emission-free hydrogen-electric flight last summer that demonstrated the potential for emissions-free regional travel. The air taxi featured a hydrogen-based power plant on board.

There’s talk about hybrid electric being incorporated into some of the newer eVTOL aircraft concepts to try and address the range challenges of pure battery systems.

Must-see Sessions

The Forum’s opening plenary and Forum 360 will give us a glimpse into the aviation industry in 2050. Our opening speakers will share their insights that will define aviation in the next three decades. 

“Injecting intelligence,” or bringing together autonomy, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning into platforms, will serve as one of the daylong themes of the conference.

The world is entering a state of increased tension between longstanding adversaries and democratic countries. That’s spurring a lot of pressure for us to innovate more quickly and to onboard new capabilities sooner than we ever have in the past. Three of the Forums 360 panel discussions will cover some of the biggest challenges and opportunities. One will cover U.S. collaborative combat aircraft developments, featuring the director of the U.S. Air Force’s 40th Test Flight Squadron from Eglin Air Force Base and the deputy director of Data & Analytics Enablement for National Defense Canada.

A key theme with autonomy is the concept of affordable mass, a strategy for developing and deploying low-cost weapon systems and aircraft to counter high-volume adversary capabilities.

There is a huge capability gap between the large Predator and Reaper UAS and the tiny drones used in defense. In this “Goldilocks zone,” aircraft can be scaled to better address the threats from integrated air defense systems.

Autonomy is going to be pretty critical to operating in the kind of environment we’re now seeing in Eastern Europe and increasingly over the Indo Pacific and possibly the Arctic.

We also will be exploring the role of AI and new types of sensors in these autonomous systems and how they should be certified, as well as concepts of human machine teaming and human autonomy teaming.

Finally, the “AI Certification: Busting the Myth” session will address the most prevalent misconceptions about AI technologies in aviation, ranging from “AI will one day directly control aircraft” to “AI systems are not safe.”  The speakers will ground the talk in conceptual, scientific evidence and practical, operational experience.

300x100To hear from dozens of expert speakers and join us in the conversation, register now for 2025 AIAA AVIATION Forum, 21–25 July, Las Vegas.

About the Author

Jeremy Wang, a third-year member of the AIAA AVIATION Forum’s Guiding Coalition, is the co-founder and COO of Ribbit, a venture-backed startup developing dual-use autonomous aircraft to serve rural, coastal, and remote regions. Ribbit is credited with the first fully automated gate-to-gate flight in Canada and serving federal contracts delivering advanced autonomy for air and joint operations. Prior to Ribbit, Wang was the CTO of Canada’s top-ranked commercial drone operator where he oversaw the development of special-purpose drones for industrial and defense applications.

Register now for AIAA AVIATION Forum 
The 2025 AIAA AVIATION Forum is your direct flight to the forefront of aviation business, research, development, and technology. Registration is now open.

 Register for the event here and save before the 23 June Early Bird deadline.

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.