Tag: Passing

AIAA Mourns the Passing of Ming Chang

It is with a very heavy heart that we share Ming Chang, AIAA Aeronautics Domain Lead and AIAA Associate Fellow, passed away Sunday, 1 October 2023. Ming was a pioneer throughout his career in aeronautical engineering. Ming’s leadership driving AIAA to address the important challenges of the aeronautical world will be long remembered. His AIAA service is directly responsible for the Institute’s aeronautics domain leadership. Everyone at AIAA extends our deepest condolences to Ming’s family through this difficult time.

AIAA Mourns the Passing of Michael Collins

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 28, 2021 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) mourns the passing of Michael Collins, Apollo 11 astronaut and AIAA Fellow. AIAA Executive Director Dan Dumbacher made the following statement:

“Michael Collins was a space pioneer. As a U.S. Air Force test pilot and NASA astronaut, he pushed the boundaries of our knowledge about flight and the human spirit. We especially remember him and his crewmates, Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, for their bravery and courage in twice traversing the wine-dark sea of space to successfully complete the historic Apollo 11 mission. As an AIAA Fellow since 1976, he was recognized for his distinction in aeronautics and astronautics, having made valuable contributions to the field.

Collins’ advocacy and enthusiasm for space, as well as for STEM education before it had a name, are examples for us all to follow. We are grateful for what he showed us about how to explore our universe when he said, ‘I think a future flight should include a poet, a priest and a philosopher… we might get a much better idea of what we saw.’ Ad Astra, Michael Collins.”

AIAA 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.org, or follow AIAA on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

AIAA Mourns the Passing of Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 18, 2024 – Reston, Va. – The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) issued the following statement by AIAA CEO Dan Dumbacher:

“The AIAA community is saddened to learn of the passing of Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, USAF. As a pilot who pushed the boundaries of air and space, he contributed in profound ways to our body of technical knowledge, as well as through his decades of leadership. He was a giant in the aerospace community and future generations will continue to stand on his shoulders. We were thrilled to name him an AIAA Fellow in 1977. It has been an extreme honor to work with Lt. Gen. Stafford over the years. His knowledge and superlative leadership influenced the future of space exploration and aerospace for decades to come.

Lt. Gen. Stafford’s leadership and participation in the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project were celebrated by the Institute with distinguished awards. He personally won the AIAA Chanute Flight Test Award in 1976 “for outstanding contribution as the commander of Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in furthering peaceful cooperation in the use of space in the international arena. ”

He and fellow NASA astronauts, Vance Brand and Deke Slayton, won the AIAA Haley Space Flight Award in 1978 “for outstanding performance as the United States flight crew during the Apollo Soyuz space flight, the first international manned space mission. Through their efforts, it was possible to carry out a significant cooperative venture with the Soviet Union in a space flight that successfully demonstrated joint orbital operations and tested a universal docking system, opening the way for mutual assistance in the exploration of the universe.”

His contributions as the commander of the Apollo 10 mission – piloting the lunar module near the moon’s surface and commanding the fastest vehicle known to humans at nearly 25,000 mph – directly led to placing humans on the moon. His legacy forms the basis for today’s Artemis program and returning humans to the moon.

The AIAA community sends our condolences to Lt. Gen. Stafford’s family and friends. We are immensely grateful for his contributions to shaping the future of aerospace.”

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

AIAA Statement on the Passing of Jeff Bingham

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 23, 2024 – Reston, Va – AIAA CEO Dan Dumbacher made the following statement:

“AIAA is saddened by the news of the passing of Jeff Bingham. Jeff was a leading influence in the aerospace community helping shape U.S. space policy. We are grateful for his bipartisan, professional approach that propelled the nation’s efforts in space for the future.

Jeff was instrumental in developing the ISS, championing its use as an orbiting scientific laboratory for the benefit of humanity. In addition to his work on the ISS and the National Lab, he was influential via NASA Authorization Acts to establish the objectives and priorities for human space exploration.

Jeff was an AIAA Associate Fellow. We were honored that he shared meaningful insights with our audiences at several AIAA events, helping our community make progress toward the next exploration goals.

His dedication to the aerospace community continues, with his request in lieu of flowers for donations made to any space-related charity in his name to support future space explorers and leaders.

We send our condolences to his family and friends. Godspeed Jeff.”

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