The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics presented several awards to recognize outstanding achievements in air breathing propulsion systems, rocket propulsion systems, ground testing, and combustion engineering. Awards were also given for historical non-fiction literature and graduate research in air breathing propulsion.
A new algorithm using GPS data from a tracking system can predict and prevent collisions between small aircraft. Researchers at MIT have developed the algorithm to address the challenge of false alarms while allowing for some error margin.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics will present technical achievement awards at a June conference in Honolulu. Notable recipients include Dr. Hans Hornung, Dr. Chul Park, Preston A. Henne, and Dr. Ramesh Agarwal for their contributions to fluid dynamics, aerodynamics, and thermophysics.
A new MIT study highlights the variability in greenhouse gas emissions from alternative fuels, suggesting that conventional fossil fuels may sometimes be a more environmentally friendly choice. The research found that different types of land used for biofuel production can result in varying levels of carbon dioxide emissions, with some...
A study reveals that ancient enzymes known as thioredoxin were chemically stable at temperatures up to 32 degrees Celsius higher than their modern counterparts. The enzymes also showed increased activity at lower pH levels, indicating they operated in a hot, acidic environment during early life.
A new microfluidic device, developed by MIT researchers, can detect single cancer cells in a blood sample and also identify viruses like HIV. This device has the potential to revolutionize cancer diagnosis and make it more accessible in developing countries.
Researchers at MIT have devised a new method to detect internal damage in airplane composite materials, allowing for faster inspection. The approach uses a handheld device and heat-sensitive camera to reveal underlying problems.
Dr. Chin-Teh Sun has made significant contributions to the fundamental understanding of impact damage and composite structure failure. He is being honored with the AIAA Chichlow Prize for his groundbreaking research on damage-tolerant design in aerospace materials.
The DOPA observatory combines data on protected areas, species distributions, and socio-economic indicators to generate global environmental indicators and maps. This initiative aims to address anthropogenic pressures on ecosystems and identify new areas for protection.
The Air Force Office of Scientific Research has selected winners for the Nanosat-6 Flight Competition Review, with Michigan Technological University taking first place. The winning teams will receive assistance to become flight-ready, and one satellite will be launched as a secondary payload on an STP launch.
Researchers launched a rocket into aurora above Norway to measure the complex physics behind 'satellite drag'. The data will provide essential information for advancing understanding of neutral upwelling and its association with visible aurora phenomena.
Researchers developed a novel approach to space electronics using silicon-germanium technology, enabling reliable performance in extreme temperatures and radiation conditions. The new capabilities reduce weight, size, complexity, power, and cost while increasing reliability and adaptability.
The William T. Pecora Award recognizes Prof. Marvin Bauer's outstanding contributions to remote sensing education, science, and applications. The award highlights his research in agriculture, forestry, and lake water quality monitoring.
A system is being developed to capture heat from a car's exhaust, reducing fuel consumption by up to 10% through thermoelectric generators. The technology uses heat difference to generate electricity, promising improved fuel economy and reduced emissions.
The AIAA Foundation presents Educator Achievement Awards to seven precollege educators who have demonstrated exemplary efforts in inspiring students about mathematics, science, and related technical studies. The awards recognize the impact of these educators on their students' future careers in aerospace.
Researchers at MIT have created computer models that show a face shield can significantly reduce traumatic brain injury by impeding direct transmission of blast waves to the face. The study's findings offer a potential solution for preventing head injuries sustained by US troops during explosions.
A team of Stanford researchers has successfully tested a device that may help protect satellites from tiny meteoroid collisions. The canopy, which was tested in zero gravity, could potentially be deployed to shield spacecraft from micrometeoroids and interference with electronic equipment.
Cassel is honored for his sustained technical contributions to missile systems, including hypersonic flight regimes and navigation systems. He developed innovative solutions such as jet interaction in hypersonic flight, aerodynamic control configurations, and optical sensors.
Researchers aim to create more effective aerial vehicles by studying how animals sense their surroundings, enabling them to navigate in low-light conditions and around moving objects. The project seeks to balance short-term navigation with long-term goals, such as reaching a final destination.
A study by University of Utah neuroscientists found that higher altitudes significantly increase the risk of suicide in the Western US. The research suggests that altitude may contribute to metabolic stress associated with mood disorders, particularly in areas with high gun ownership and low population density.
Researchers at Purdue University are working on a project to develop a system for generating large quantities of synthetic fuel from agricultural wastes, other biomass or coal. The goal is to create a sustainable synthetic fuel economy by reducing carbon dioxide emissions and increasing the yield of liquid fuel.
The Georgia Institute of Technology team won first prize in the AIAA Foundation's annual Undergraduate Team Space Design Competition with their design 'Space Weather Experimental Platform (SWEPT)', which aimed to monitor space weather around the second Lagrange point. The team received a $2,500 award from the AIAA Foundation.
The Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University team, "Colbert," won the first prize with a space transportation architecture centered around propellant depots. The winning design was recognized for its innovative approach to efficient space transportation.
The University of Kansas swept honors with three winners: Lauren Fitzpatrick, Sarah Kulhanek, and Christopher M. Vaughn. Their designs focused on supersonic aircraft for low-cost space launch systems, demonstrating innovative solutions for the aerospace industry.
The California Polytechnic State University team won the first prize in the AIAA Foundation's annual Undergraduate Team Aircraft Design Competition. Their award-winning design, 'Bearodactyl,' is an alternative fuels and environmentally friendly aircraft system that addresses fossil fuel impact on earth's environment.
A team of K-state researchers is conducting a three-year study funded by a $1.2 million NASA grant to understand the impact of microgravity on human physiology. They aim to develop simple tests that astronauts can use in space to assess their physical conditioning and determine if they have the capacity to perform lunar tasks.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will honor the winners of AIAA technical and literary achievement awards for their outstanding contributions in space science and technology. The award recipients include Harvey Berger, Michael Gass, STS-125 Team, STPSat-1 Team, Wanda Austin, and J. D. Hunley.
Researchers will focus on exploring chemical processes that enable the spontaneous formation of functional polymers, such as proteins and DNA. The five-year grant will support research in over 15 laboratories at top institutions, aiming to understand the chemistry behind life's origins.
Recent advances in computing have improved fluid modeling for low Reynolds numbers, but significant challenges remain for high-Reynolds-number flows, crucial in aeronautics and climate modeling.
The new sewage treatment process uses low-oxygen conditions to encourage nitrous oxide production, which can be used as fuel. This approach could reduce costs and increase energy generation while eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will present technical achievement awards to recognize outstanding contributions in aerospace power systems and energy efficiency. Edward M. Gaddy and Essam Khalil are among the recipients, honored for their work on space photovoltaics and energy-efficient combustors.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will present several awards at the 46th Joint Propulsion Conference & Exhibit. These include the AIAA Air Breathing Propulsion Award to Bobby Berrier for his contributions to propulsion airframe integration, and the AIAA Propellants and Combustion Award to David G. Lilley fo...
The Deep Impact spacecraft will fly past Earth for the fifth and last time on its EPOXI mission, changing its orbit to boost speed on its way to comet Hartley 2. The spacecraft's instruments will be used during an extended flyby in November to gather data on the comet.
Researchers at NIST have developed a technique using atomic force microscopy to study subsurface conditions in nanostructured composite materials. The method, which uses electrostatic forces, allows for the mapping of electric potential distribution and quantification of carbon nanotube concentrations.
Scientists add ultraviolet light to model prebiotic reaction and discover guanine can be formed at lower temperatures than previously reported. The discovery suggests that starting life on Earth might not have been as difficult as thought.
A new computer model developed by NC State University researchers allows engineers to test different vehicle designs for a Mars rover. The model takes into account various conditions such as wind and terrain, enabling informed decisions about the final design characteristics.
Researchers at Caltech have found a way to improve the efficiency of wind farms by using vertical-axis turbines in strategic arrays. By studying the vortices left behind by schools of fish, they discovered that alternating turbine rotations and staggering their placement can increase energy extraction up to 10 times.
Researchers at Caltech develop a nonlinear acoustic lens producing highly focused sound bullets for advanced medical imaging, nondestructive evaluation, and potentially even cancer treatment. The device exploits particle contacts to create compact acoustic pulses with high amplitude and low distortion.
The Planning and Noise Section of Denver International Airport has been honored with the Jay Hollingsworth Speas Airport Award for its exceptional efforts to mitigate noise around the airport. The section's director, Frederick R. Busch, will accept the award at an awards luncheon on February 25.
Scientists at Imperial College London are developing a composite material that can store and discharge electrical energy, making it ideal for use in hybrid vehicles. The material could reduce the number of batteries needed, leading to a 15% reduction in car weight and improved range.
William T. Carpenter will receive the AIAA Missile Systems Management Award for his innovative leadership in establishing an environment for creativity in missile system technology. He has advanced several missile and defense systems through his expertise in aerodynamics, guidance, and control systems.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has elected 2010 Fellows and Honorary Fellows, recognizing exceptional achievements in aerospace research and development. The 2010 Honorary Fellows are William Heiser, Robert Liebeck, and Sheila Widnall, while the 2010 Fellows include prominent figures in the field.
A new pan-tropical forest mapping initiative, launched at COP15, aims to provide accurate data on forest cover and carbon stocks. The project combines satellite and lidar data from NASA and JAXA, enabling countries to build robust national carbon accounting systems.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) will honor outstanding achievements in aeronautics and astronautics with several prestigious awards. AIAA Associate Fellows will also receive recognition for their contributions to the field.
The Georgia Institute of Technology has been awarded a $10.5 million U.S. Air Force Center of Excellence to design nanostructures for energy harvesting and adaptive materials. The center will focus on developing tools to optimize critical cognitive processes of the modern warfighter.
A tropical depression with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph was downgraded late yesterday as cooler waters and increasing wind shear took their toll. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) detected the disintegration of Tropical Depression Neki using its satellite imagery, revealing a surface trough in low clouds.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a fluid-dynamical model that reveals nanopillars form through thermocapillary flow, not pressure fluctuations. This discovery paves the way for a new 3D lithography method with high precision and potentially limitless patterns.
The AIAA will recognize outstanding achievements in digital avionics and information systems with the presentation of two prestigious awards. John Moody and colleagues from The MITRE Corporation will receive the Dr. John C. Ruth Digital Avionics Award for their invention and implementation of the Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) and ...
UNH's Space Science Center played a crucial role in the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission, which has provided groundbreaking maps of the boundary between our solar system and the interstellar medium. The mission's data reveals new insights into the interactions between the solar wind and interstellar gas, including the form...
Researchers develop ALICE, a frozen mixture of water and nanoscale aluminum powder, offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to conventional propellants. The new propellant could be used for launch, long-distance space missions, and hydrogen fuel cells.
In the early 1960s, a Harvard-educated surgeon and US Air Force General proposed testing women in space due to their lighter weight, lower heart rate, and fewer reproductive system issues. A total of 19 women were enrolled, with 68% passing the tests, earning them the nickname 'Mercury 13'. The data from these women's physiological tes...
The new center will foster NASA-related developments based on optical sciences and technology, enhancing the national aerospace science workforce. CAOSS will also develop partnerships with industry, NASA research centers, federal laboratories, and minority-serving colleges.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has announced its honorees for the AIAA Honors and Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in space automation and robotics, space operations and support, and space systems. The awards will be presented at the AIAA SPACE 2009 Conference and Exposition.
The Constrained Vapor Bubble (CVB) experiment aims to understand heat and mass transfer operations in microgravity. It will provide valuable data for developing new cooling systems for spacecraft and electronics devices, as well as improving terrestrial heat transfer devices.
Researchers at MIT have successfully grown carbon nanotubes without a metal catalyst, using zirconium oxide instead, which could improve electronic performance and material strength
Researchers from Caltech have discovered a mechanism that explains how tiny swimming animals can affect the ocean environment, creating instability and mixing large scales. The impact of biogenic ocean mixing is estimated to be comparable to wind forcing and tidal forcing.
Eleven AFOSR-funded researchers have been named PECASE award winners for their innovative research and community service. They will each receive $200,000 annually over five years to pursue further research in their fields.
Dr. Stan Powell will receive the award in Denver on August 5 for his extensive original research and engineering development leading to hypersonic test facilities. His contributions include thermophysics research, modeling of combustion processes, and assessment of simulation fidelity.
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics will honor outstanding achievements in rocket propulsion systems, unsteady combustion, ground testing, and engineering through various awards. The winners include William Sirignano, Vigor Yang, Stan Powell, Frederick Schauer, David McGrath, Suresh Aggarwal, and Cynthia Obringer.
Dr. Charles W. Clendening received the 2009 AIAA Plasmadynamics and Lasers Award for his work on scalable high energy chemical oxide-iodine lasers. He has spent over thirty years developing high power laser technology, previously working for the US Air Force and TRW.