Tag: Ph.D.

ASCEND 2026 Assembles Space Industry’s Most Influential Voices in Washington, D.C.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 31, 2026 – Reston, Va. – AIAA announced today a powerful lineup of speakers who will take the stage at ASCEND 2026, 19–21 May, Washington Hilton, Washington, D.C. The event will address the most important opportunities and mission-critical challenges at this pivotal time for the space community.

“We are proud to bring the global space community to experience ASCEND in Washington, D.C. Eight leading organizations from across the industry are joining the ASCEND team this year and strengthening our content to deliver a must-attend event,” said AIAA CEO Clay Mowry.

“This year’s program is timely and transformative, as the space community looks to accelerate exploration and science. ASCEND 2026 will showcase the leading voices from space commerce, security, and policy to build our off-world future. It will be the most comprehensive gathering of space professionals in the nation’s capital in 2026 with 2,000 participants expected,” Mowry added.

Powered by AIAA, ASCEND is the world’s premier outcomes-focused, interdisciplinary space event designed to accelerate building our off-world future. Lockheed Martin is the Founding Sponsor of ASCEND. Commercial Space Federation (CSF) is the Premier Event Partner. Event partners include: BryceTech, ISS National Laboratory, National Air and Space Museum, Novaspace, Space Force Association (SFA), Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), and The Aerospace Corporation.

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:

Erik Antonsen, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School
The Honorable Brian Babin (TX-36), Chair, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Olga Bannova, Research Professor, University of Houston
David Baumann, Director, Human Research Program, NASA
Harriet Brettle, Executive Director, Keck Institute for Space Studies
Will Bruey, CEO, Varda
Tory Bruno, President, Blue National Security, Blue Origin
A.C. Charania, Senior Vice President of Space Business Development, Zeno Power
Anne Cheever, Founder, Vela Scientific
Carissa Christensen, Founder and CEO, BryceTech
Jonathan Cirtain, CEO & President, Axiom Space
John Conafay, CEO, Integrate Space
Katie Cranor, Executive Director, Office of Operational Safety, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, FAA
Shawn Domagal-Goldman, Director, Astrophysics Division, NASA
Jonny Dyer, CEO, Muon Space
Shirley Dyke, Donald A. and Patricia A. Coates Professor of Innovation in Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University
Debra Facktor, Head of US Space Systems, Airbus US Space & Defense
David Goldstein, Principal Guidance, Navigation and Control Engineer, SpaceX
James “Jim” Green, CEO, Space Science Endeavors
Dana “Keoki” Jackson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, MITRE National Security, and AIAA President-Elect
Taylor Jordan, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, NOAA
Mike Kincaid, President & Executive Director, Challenger Center
Josef Koller, Head of Space Safety and Sustainability, Amazon Leo
Joe Landon, Co-Founder & President, Rendezvous Robotics
Kris Lehnhardt, M.D., Director, Space Medicine Program, UTHealth Houston
Dana Levin, Director of Space Medicine and Human Research, Vast Inc.
Janna Lewis, Senior Vice President, Policy & General Counsel, Astroscale US
Robert Lightfoot, President, Lockheed Martin Space
Laura Lucier, Chief, Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division, NASA
Ray Lugo, CEO, ISS National Laboratory
Sandra Magnus, Principal, AstroPlanetview LLC
Scott McLaughlin, Executive Director, Spaceport America
Kristen McQuinn, Mission Head, Roman Space Telescope, Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI)
Rob Meyerson, CEO, Interlune
Mike Moses, President, Spaceline, Virgin Galactic
Clay Mowry, CEO, AIAA
Michelle Murray, Deputy Director, Office of Strategic Management, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, FAA
Clive Neal, Professor of Planetary Geology, University of Notre Dame
Charles Norton, Chief Technology Strategist, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Michael Roberts, Chief Scientist, ISS National Laboratory
Ryan Shepperd, Lead SSA Engineer, Iridium
Erika Wagner, Lead, US Business Development, The Exploration Company-US
Matthew Weinzierl, Professor & Senior Associate Dean, Harvard Business School

Dynamic Sessions Featured All Week

Deep technical content scheduled. AIAA events are well known for the depth of technical content presented, with over 200 technical presentations and collaborative sessions at ASCEND. ISS National Laboratory will bring even more technical presentations from its microgravity community that has been conducting research onboard the orbiting lab.
CSF will host its two-day Commercial Space Policy Summit (CSPS), 19–20 May. From launch cadence and regulatory reform to lunar and orbital infrastructure, national security, and the future of commercial space stations, this year’s Summit will tackle the most pressing issues shaping the space economy. Registration for CSPS includes access to ASCEND.
The Aerospace Corporation will host a Classified Day at the TS/SCI level on 18 May at its Chantilly, Virginia, office, with additional registration required. Additionally, they will host the Space Transformation Track on 21 May, comprising sessions designed to accelerate the space industrial base and progress in national priority areas for space.
BryceTech will host its inaugural Start-up Space Pitch Competition. Start-ups from across space and space-adjacent industries (series A or earlier) can apply. Finalists will pitch start-up space experts during ASCEND 2026. One winner will receive a Start-up Space Advisory Package from BryceTech, a one-year AIAA Corporate Membership, and more. Applications are open through 19 April.
The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum will host a three-session deep dive into preserving the ISS National Laboratory as we prepare for its end of mission. Why save ISS heritage? What should be saved from the ISS? How will we recover items from ISS?
SGAC will host its SGx 2026 event, 17–18 May, focused on cultivating the next generation of space leaders with “lightning talks” followed by moderated Q&A panels that tackle pressing issues and innovative ideas to inspire the next generation of space leaders. Additional registration required through SGAC.

Early-Bird Registration Rates Available

Registration for ASCEND 2026 is open now, with early-bird rates available until 20 April. Journalists should 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.

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.

AIAA Fellow Yousuff Hussaini Died in February 2026

FROM THE INSTITUTE
Mohammad Yousuff Hussaini, Ph.D., died on 16 February 2026. Hussaini was a renowned applied mathematician and computational engineer with a strong interest in the education and training of young scientists.

AIAA Fellow Saric Died in April 2025

William S. Saric, Ph.D., NAE, died on 22 April 2025. Saric dedicated his academic career to 1) foundational theoretical and experimental understanding of boundary-layer instability, laminar-turbulent transition, and flow control including under flight-operational conditions, 2) establishing the standards for careful validation-quality experiments and flight research, and 3) freely educating, collaborating with, and serving the international community and the next generation of researchers.

AIAA Associate Fellow Deininger Died in June 2025

FROM THE INSTITUTE
William (Bill) D. Deininger, Ph.D., died on 21 June. He was 68 years old. Deininger graduated with a B.S. in Physics from the State University of New York Cortland (1979). He then received an M.S. in Physics and Plasma Physics from Colorado State University (1982) and a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from University of Pisa (1995).
Full Story (Aerospace America)

Exploration Generation Unveils New Rocketry-Themed Storyline Unit for Middle School Educators Nationwide

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Free Instructional Materials Utilize the Excitement of Rocketry to Drive Student Engagement While Providing Equitable STEM Experiences in the Classroom

October 18, 2022 – Arlington, Va. Exploration Generation (ExGen), co-founded by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Estes Industries, and NSTA, today unveiled its new rocketry-themed middle-level unit for educators. Designed for grades 6-8, the ExGen Model Rocket Safety Storyline Unit is available now, free of charge, at https://www.nsta.org/exploration-generation.

The storyline unit, which consists of seven unique NSTA Daily Do lesson plans, puts middle school students at the center of learning to investigate an anchoring phenomenon–successful and unsuccessful model rocket flights–while exploring science concepts including forces and motion, and chemical reactions. Designed to continually spark curiosity and prompt questions from students, the unit helps educators provide a more collaborative learning experience where ideas are accessible and engaging for all students.

“AIAA recognizes that our nation’s educators are key to preparing the next generation of scientists and engineers,” said Dan Dumbacher, executive director, AIAA. “We are excited about taking this next step in the ExGen program – getting more materials into the hands of educators to do what they do best – inspire!”

AIAA, Estes, and NSTA joined forces to launch the ExGen program earlier this year to directly address the need for a more diverse and robust STEM-literate workforce, particularly in the aerospace and defense industry. ExGen provides K-12 educators with engaging, classroom-ready lessons and resources to help immerse students in real-life applications of STEM while exploring various concepts in aerospace, engineering, and rocketry.

Next week, the new instructional unit and recently launched ExGen Model Rocketry Forces Playlist will be featured at a special session during the 2022 ASCEND, apex event in Las Vegas and online. During the session, aerospace industry professionals and space enthusiasts will learn about the importance of phenomena-based, equitable STEM K-12 educational experiences. Through hands-on engagement, they will experience what it’s like to learn in today’s classroom to better support K-12 workforce development initiatives.

“We need to bridge the gap between what is happening in the classroom and the needs of the STEM workforce. This is crucial to the success of students and the future of our nation’s aerospace initiatives,” said Nicole Bayeur, director of education, Estes. “Through events like ASCEND, doors can be opened to get K-12 education into the conversation as we think about the development of our future leaders.”

On November 9 at 7 p.m. (EST), middle school educators can join a free web seminar, Exploration Generation: Sensemaking in Rocketry, in conjunction with the release of the new materials. In addition to learning about the resources, participants will discover how using a sensemaking approach to teach model rocketry can help to inspire students to pursue careers in aerospace and STEM.

“The best foundation for successful science learning is a phenomena-based approach, in which student thinking and sensemaking drive the questions. Providing students the opportunity to build their ideas through experiences bridges their initial perceptions to scientific understanding, which helps them make relevant, lasting connections between science and their everyday lives,” said Erika Shugart, Ph.D., executive director, NSTA. “The amazing ExGen rocketry-themed resources provided through this collaboration help middle school teachers deliver authentic, highly engaging learning experiences that motivate students to explore beyond the classroom.”

This year, five $1,500 grants will be given to educators or administrators at Title 1 schools to fund engaging and inclusive STEM and aerospace-related projects. Applications for the AIAA Exploration Generation Title I Grants are being accepted through October 31 at https://edu.estesrockets.com/grants/aiaa-grant/.

ExGen will continue its expansion, offering additional resources for elementary and high school educators in 2023 and 2024. To access ExGen’s free instructional materials, rocketry basics, safety resources, and funding opportunities, visit https://www.nsta.org/exploration-generation.

Contacts
Rebecca Gray, AIAA, [email protected], 804-397-5270
Michelle Passey, Estes Industries, [email protected], 719-372-2098
Kate Falk, NSTA, [email protected], 703-312-9211

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.

About Estes Industries
Estes Industries was founded in 1958 by Vern and Gleda Estes and found a home soon after in Penrose, Colorado (the model rocket capital of the world). Through more than six decades of hard work and innovation, Estes has grown to be the leading manufacturer of model rocket engines, kits and accessories. As of April 2018, Estes Industries is once again a family-run business, committed to enabling safe, successful flights for customers everywhere.

Estes is committed to delivering interdisciplinary STEM resources and tools to educators that give them the skills and confidence necessary to elevate learning. Estes has been a leader in STEM education for 63 years, reaching 500,000 students annually. To learn more about Estes Industries, LLC please visit www.estesrockets.com.

About NSTA
The National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) is a vibrant community of 40,000 science educators and professionals committed to best practices in teaching science and its impact on student learning. NSTA offers high quality science resources and continuous learning so that science educators grow professionally and excel in their career. For new and experienced teachers alike, the NSTA community offers the opportunity to network with like-minded peers at the national level, connect with mentors and leading researchers, and learn from the best in the field. For more information, visit www.nsta.org or follow NSTA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.