Aerospace News

Joseph Pelfrey, director the NASA Marshall Flight Center, was keynote speaker at the Graduate Engineering Research Showcase in Huntsville on March 26.

Graduate research showcase highlights innovations in space exploration
3/28/24 8:55 AM

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering held its annual Graduate Engineering Research Showcase on Tuesday, March 26, at the Auburn University Research and Innovation Campus in Huntsville. This year’s showcase theme was “Pursuing the Space Frontier.”

Members of the Auburn University Rocketry Association (AURA) pose for a photo with Alie Ana, Mila and Alexandra Reese, who are six-year-old identical triplets and a Miracle Family The Alabama Children's Hospital Foundation. Jackson Miller (left) is the testing lead for AURA, Suzie Feist (middle) is the outreach lead for AURA and Will Shipman (right) is the AURA president.

Auburn rocketry team visits Children's of Alabama
3/14/24 9:00 AM

Members of the Auburn University Rocketry Association (AURA) visited Children's of Alabama in Birmingham with subscale rockets, model rockets and golf balls for kids to paint.

Cyrus Lloyd

#GINNing Podcast: Makerspace Maestro
2/9/24 11:00 AM

Parabolic telescopes... diamond-turning lathes...  few folks have taken advantage of Auburn Engineering's state-of-the-art Design and Innovation Center like aerospace engineering senior Cyrus Lloyd.

Auburn University alumnus Joseph Pelfrey has been named the director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville.

Aerospace alumnus named director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
2/5/24 12:30 PM

Auburn University alumnus Joseph Pelfrey has been named the director of NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. Pelfrey, who earned his bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering in 2000, will manage one of NASA's largest field installations in this role.

Kanak Parmar

#GINNing Podcast: Freeing Up Space
2/2/24 12:00 PM

Look, someone has to lessen the load on NASA's Deep Space Network. And Kanak Parmar is just the aerospace engineering doctoral student to do it.

Joseph Majdalani receives the Wyld Propulsion medal and a citation certificate from Rusty Powell, AIAA Director for Propulsion and Energy, at the SciTech Forum on Jan. 10, 2024, in Orlando, Florida.

Majdalani receives international Wyld Propulsion Award
1/31/24 1:00 PM

Joseph Majdalani, the Hugh and Loeda Francis Chair of Excellence in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Auburn University, has received the 2024 Wyld Propulsion Award from the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

Aerospace associate professor Vrishank Raghav (left) stands with aerospace postdoctoral researcher Arun Nair (center) and doctoral student Abbishek Gururaj (right) to study the R3DV facility, used to measure the rotor blades of flight vehicles — such as helicopters, Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS), and Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOLs) aircraft — when hovering.

Aerospace associate professor awarded DOD grant for instrumentation
1/30/24 12:00 PM

Vrishank Raghav, associate professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, is among 281 researchers nationwide awarded a Department of Defense grant under the Defense University Research Instrumentation Program (DURIP).

Front row, Left to right: Mike Patterson, Joe Majdalani, Imon Chakraborty, David Sharp, Roy Hartfield and Alan Lowrey. Second row: Lisa Mitchell, Todd May, Andrew Keys (AIAA GHS Vice-Chair) and Jeff Haars.

Aerospace engineering faculty honored by AIAA Greater Huntsville Section
1/23/24 1:00 PM

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering was well-represented at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Greater Huntsville Section Associate Fellow Recognition Dinner on Dec. 18. One Auburn engineering alumnus was inducted into the 2024 class of Associate Fellows, and one faculty member was recognized for making the 2023 class. Additionally, two faculty members were acknowledged at the dinner for their national recognitions earlier in the year.

Maggie Nelson is Auburn University's first Churchill Scholarship recipient.

Aerospace engineering student wins prestigious Churchill Scholarship
1/22/24 1:30 PM

Nelson, a senior from Birmingham in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, is headed to Churchill College at the University of Cambridge this fall to work toward her MPhil in materials science and metallurgy.

Entrants must record a video presentation using animation, simulation, diagrams, pictures, or even demonstrations explaining an overview of their respective study, but at a level where general audiences can understand. Each video must not exceed 60 seconds.

Registration under way for AUSome Science in 60 Seconds
1/19/24 2:30 PM

Last spring’s AUsome Science in 60 Seconds research pitch competition was so successful, Auburn Engineering is hosting it again.

The single largest prime research contract ever awarded to Auburn University is designed to help the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Aviation & Missile Center boost its increasing modernization efforts.

Auburn secures $50M Army research grant — the largest in AU history
1/10/24 12:00 PM

How much is Auburn University's advanced manufacturing expertise worth to the U.S. Army? Up to $50 million.

Auburn University President Christopher B. Roberts, Walt and Virginia Woltosz, College of Human Sciences Dean Susan Hubbard and ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff.

Aerospace engineering alumnus among those honored at International Quality of Life Awards
12/5/23 10:00 AM

Ginger and Walt Woltosz recognized in College of Human Sciences annual event in New York City.

Kanak Parmar, a doctoral student in aerospace engineering, won the Molly K. Macauley Award for the science/engineering category from the American Astronautical Society.

Aerospace doctoral student wins Molly K. Macauley Award
11/30/23 3:00 PM

Parmar, a doctoral student in aerospace engineering in Auburn University’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, shared her vision during a presentation at the American Astronautical Society (AAS) von Braun Space Exploration Symposium in Huntsville on Oct. 27 after receiving the Molly K. Macauley Award for the science/engineering category.

Joe Majdalani, the Hugh and Loeda Francis Chair of Excellence in the Department of Aerospace Engineering delivers the von Kármán plenary at ASCEND on Oct. 23, at the Ceasars Forum in Las Vegas.

Majdalani delivers 2023 von Kármán Lecture
11/30/23 1:30 PM

Joe Majdalani, the Hugh and Loeda Francis Chair of Excellence in the Department of Aerospace Engineering, recently delivered the 2023 von Kármán Lecture in Astronautics, a prestigious lectureship hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

two men talking, rocket with blue origin written on it, American flag

Auburn alum at Blue Origin working to launch one of world’s tallest rockets
10/25/23 7:00 AM

Monk is a director on the New Glenn mission management team at Blue Origin, the aerospace manufacturer founded by Amazon.com’s Jeff Bezos. He graduated from Auburn with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering in 2005 and earned a master’s at the University of Colorado a year later. He immediately joined NASA’s Constellation program, working to develop the rockets and spacecraft needed to replace the retiring fleet of space shuttles. When the program was canceled in 2011, Monk had mixed feelings.

Ryan Pollard won first place for oral presentation, honorable mention for poster presentation and Best in Show overall.

Student in mechanical engineering wins Best in Show at research showcase
10/16/23 9:40 AM

Ryan Pollard, a first-year graduate student, earned 'Best in Show' honors for his oral and poster presentation, "A Kinematics-Based Approach to Future Joint Angle Prediction."

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering's newly launched pilot program aims to help students take their engineering career to the Next Level.

Next Level program aims to develop career skills in students
9/28/23 10:00 AM

The College of Engineering's newly launched pilot program, titled Next Level, aims to enhance career preparedness and to improve first destination satisfaction by focusing on formative career development in the classroom.

Emmanuel Winful, right, is the college's health and safety manager.

Auburn Engineering named Green Cross Award semifinalist
9/25/23 8:20 AM

College recognized for advocating transformational research that doesn't push the boundaries of safety.

The 11th annual Graduate Engineering Research Showcase offers $8,250 in prizes.

Almost 200 registered for annual Graduate Engineering Research Showcase
9/21/23 8:00 AM

Students will exchange ideas, hypotheses and fresh concepts between one another and faculty judges on Thursday, October 12.

The 2023 Auburn Alumni Engineering Council award winners included Distinguished Auburn Engineer Ed Yeilding, ’72 electrical engineering; Distinguished Auburn Engineer Pam Boyd, ’92 electrical engineering; Distinguished Auburn Engineer Richard Kretzschmar, ’90 and ’96 aerospace engineering; Outstanding Young Auburn Engineer Rodmesia Clarke, ’08 chemical engineering; Distinguished Auburn Engineer Metrick Houser, ’93 chemical engineering; Distinguished Auburn Engineer Mike Ogles, ’89 mechanical engineering, represented by his son Will Ogles; Outstanding Young Auburn Engineer Brandon Young, ’10 electrical engineering; Outstanding Young Auburn Engineer Christa Musgrove, ’07 mechanical engineering; and Superior Service Steve Duke, chemical engineering associate professor and the college’s former associate dean for academics.

Auburn Alumni Engineering Council honors 9 with college’s highest awards
9/18/23 1:30 PM

Eight outstanding engineering alumni and one longtime faculty member of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering were honored by the Auburn Alumni Engineering Council during a ceremony Friday, Sept. 15, for their distinguished professional careers.

Auburn Engineering's undergraduate programs rank No. 3 among public institutions in the Southeastern Conference and No. 1 in the state.

Auburn Engineering undergraduate programs receive No. 30 public ranking
9/18/23 12:00 PM

Auburn Engineering's undergraduate programs climbed three spots in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Auburn Engineering professors Fa Foster Dai, J. David Irwin and Bruce Tatarchuk have been recognized as NAI fellows, while professor Jin Wang is an NAI senior member.

AU ranked by National Academy of Inventors among Top 100 U.S. universities granted utility patents
9/14/23 7:00 AM

Auburn innovators earned 12 new patents in 2022

Ayden Kemp

#GINNing Podcast: The Scholar
9/8/23 11:00 AM

Listen to Ayden Kemp, one of Auburn Engineering's two latest Goldwater Scholars, discuss how his 5th-grade trip to Disneyland inspired a unique educational journey only one engineering school could provide.

What can we learn from the movie iRobot, where human-like machines performed tasks and became a threat?

Artificial intelligence-themed film festival kicks off Tuesday, August 29
8/22/23 3:00 PM

Viewers will have the opportunity to view five movies, then learn from an Auburn University professor about what they witnessed and how it can be applied today… and tomorrow.

Ashley Gann

#GINNing Podcast: Yes We Gann
8/11/23 10:00 AM

Ashley Gann used her 2005 Auburn aerospace engineering degree to shatter meteorology's glass ceiling in the state of Alabama. Learn how she did it — and why she believes STEM is the key to helping other women reach their full professional potential — on the latest episode of the award-winning #GINNing Podcast.

Vrishank Raghav is director of Auburn University's Applied Fluids Research Group.

Professor uses bio-inspired surface textures to ensure smooth flight
7/27/23 12:40 PM

Study is part of a three-year, $600,000 Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research grant.

Harry Coker is a former NSA and CIA executive and veteran Naval officer.

Senior Fellow of McCrary Institute nominated for National Cyber Director
7/26/23 7:00 AM

If confirmed by the Senate, Harry Coker would advise the President of the United States on cybersecurity strategy and policy, working out of the White House and leading the Office of the National Cyber Director.

Seven students representing four engineering disciplines were awarded Department of Defense SMART scholarships this year.

Seven Auburn Engineering students awarded DoD SMART scholarships
7/13/23 11:00 AM

Emma Akozbek, Seth Markum, Rehman Qureshi, Alton Stoute, Dayton Malone, Mason Holtcamp, and Chase Hittle will receive tuition for up to five years, mentorship, summer internships, a stipend and full-time employment with the Department of Defense after graduation through the scholarship.

Team members representing the VSDDL are, from left, Rajan Bhandari, Anthony Comer, Assistant Professor Imon Chakraborty and Stefanus Harris Putra.

VSDDL wins Vertical Flight Society international competition
7/7/23 9:15 AM

Three graduate students in Imon Chakraborty's laboratory designed, built and flew the winning vertical takeoff and landing aircraft.

Ayden Kemp

Senior in aerospace, biosystems awarded ASF scholarship
6/26/23 10:00 AM

Ayden Kemp dreams of developing and maintaining life support systems for manned spaceflight so humanity can one day establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and on Mars.

Yaeji Kim is a member of the Auburn University Space Technology Applications Research lab.

Asteroid named after aerospace engineering student
6/23/23 2:00 PM

Yaeji Kim was among six Auburn students honored at the recent Asteroids, Comets, Meteors Conference in Flagstaff, Arizona

Roy Hartfield, right, has devoted a 30-plus year career to the study of aerodynamics, propulsion, statistical analysis of air vehicles, and aircraft research.

Professor in aerospace engineering presented with AIAA Aerodynamics Award
6/20/23 11:05 AM

Roy Hartfield, Walt and Virginia Woltosz Professor of Aerospace Engineering, is dedicated to making an impact on industry and students.

Lila Saunders

#GINNing Podcast: White Sands Saunders
6/9/23 8:00 AM

From the whiskey woods of Tennessee to the White Sands of New Mexico, this just-graduated aerospace engineering ace is definitely on the right trajectory.

Elizabeth Weidl

Student in aerospace engineering earns national honor society accolades
6/6/23 3:00 PM

Elizabeth Weidl, a rising senior in aerospace engineering, was the south central region winner and national runner-up for the Sigma Gamma Tau Undergraduate Award.

1969 aerospace engineering graduate Ed Waggoner (middle, splendid tie) poses at the May 9 groundbreaking on the new £58 million addition to the University of Cambridge's famed Whittle Laboratory. Waggoner, deputy associate administrator for programs for NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, participated in a roundtable discussion on sustainable aviation before the event, which was the first public engagement for King Charles following his May 6 coronation. The King spoke one-on-one with Waggoner about NASA's work on disruptive innovation in net zero aviation and energy.

King Charles consults AU aerospace grad on sustainable aviation, neckties
6/1/23 7:00 AM

Ed Waggoner, '69 aerospace engineering, deputy associate administrator for programs for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate, discussed NASA's sustainable aviation efforts with King Charles at the king's request at his first public engagement following his coronation.

Pictured, front row, left to right: alumnus and keynote speaker Chris Crumbly, Undergraduate Student of the Year Colin Bamford, Professor and Francis Chair of Excellence Joe Majdalani; back row, left to right: Sackheim Scholarship winner Jordan Holland, Sackheim Scholarship winner Charles Smith, Earl Pearce Professional of the Year Jayme Allgood, and Ed Pruett Professional of the Year Kevin Albarado.

Aerospace engineering well-represented at AIAA awards
5/22/23 1:20 PM

Three Auburn Engineering students, two alumni, a faculty member and future student earned key honors by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Greater Huntsville Section (GHS) at its annual awards dinner on May 20.

Mario Eden

#GINNing Podcast: New Boss Level
5/12/23 12:00 PM

As chemical engineering chair, Mario Eden led the department to its highest-ever U.S. News & World Report Graduate Program ranking; increased undergraduate enrollment to record numbers with incoming freshmen with ACT scores of 30 or higher for 11 years in a row; successfully added 17 tenure-track faculty members and two full-time lecturers during the past 10 years, including the department achieving the highest percentage of female full professors among any chemical engineering department in the country; increased philanthropic support of the program by millions of dollars; and successfully led the department through the national accreditation process in 2016 and 2022. Last month, he was appointed the new dean of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering. But in terms of lasting impact, his latest distinction — #GINNing Podcast guest — stands alone.

Alton Stoute, left, and Rehman Qureshi

Aerospace engineering graduate students awarded DoD SMART Scholarships
5/11/23 9:00 AM

Alton Stoute and Rehman Qureshi will begin assignments this summer at the U.S. Army Research Lab Proving Grounds in Aberdeen, Maryland, and Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York, respectively.

Mousumi Akter, a graduate student in computer science and software engineering, with Graduate School Dean George Flowers, was among the college's 13 students recognized.

Grad School honors 13 students, 4 faculty/staff from engineering
5/5/23 8:00 AM

Students, faculty and staff recognized at the annual Auburn University Graduate School awards ceremony, Friday, April 28, in the Melton Student Center Ballroom.

Steve Taylor

Taylor named SVP for Research and Economic Development
5/4/23 2:00 PM

Taylor has served as the interim dean of Auburn’s Samuel Ginn College of Engineering since April 2022. Taylor will begin his new position on June 1.

The Auburn Alumni Engineering Council was established in 1965 and is a group of Auburn Engineering alumni who work together to support the vision and goals of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.

Auburn Alumni Engineering Council inducts Class of 2028
5/2/23 4:05 PM

The Auburn Alumni Engineering Council inducted seven new members to the group during its annual spring meeting April 14 in the Brown-Kopel Center.

Michael Greene, associate professor of nutritional sciences, left, with Grace Hester, a senior in chemical engineering, Elizabeth Lipke,  Mary and John H. Sanders Professor in chemical engineering, and Justin Harvell, a graduate student in chemical engineering.

AUsome Science in 60 Seconds challenges student researchers
4/28/23 11:00 AM

The research-based competition presented by the Council of Engineering Graduate Students tasked students to create videos and explain their respective projects in a minute or less.

Auburn has climbed 10 spots in U.S. News' Best Engineering Graduate Program rankings over the past four years.

Auburn Engineering climbs to No. 31 in U.S. News and World Report ranking
4/25/23 5:44 AM

Auburn Engineering has climbed 10 spots in the Best Graduate program rankings over the past four years

Maggie Nelson (left) and Yoorae Noh extrude recycled filament and feed it into a new spool.

CPAC gives used 3D printing filament new life through recycling program
4/21/23 12:50 PM

Through ReMake, the Center for Polymers and Advanced Composites is collecting 3D printing waste and recycling it into filament that can be redistributed to labs across campus.

Click on the image above for more information.

CPAC Summer Seminar Series kicks off May 30
4/20/23 1:00 PM

The annual seminar series hosted by the Center for Polymers and Advanced Composites is an opportunity for graduate students to share their research and foster interdisciplinary research collaboration at Auburn.

Vrishank Raghav, assistant professor in aerospace engineering (left), Lokesh Silwal, graduate student in aerospace engineering (center), and Ehsan Taheri, assistant professor in aerospace engineering, with their coaxial rotor prototype.

Researchers earn multi-year VLRCOE grant to study coaxial rotor phenomena
4/17/23 7:35 AM

Assistant professors in aerospace engineering, Vrishank Raghav and Ehsan Taheri, and graduate student Lokesh Silwal, received multi-year funding from the Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence for their proposal

Mario Eden has been named as the 14th dean of Auburn University's Samuel Ginn College of Engineering

Auburn University appoints Eden as its new dean of engineering
4/14/23 2:00 PM

Following a national search, Mario Eden, the Joe T. and Billie Carole McMillan Professor and chair of Auburn University’s Department of Chemical Engineering, has been named as the 14th dean of the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, according to an announcement by Interim Provost Vini Nathan.

Interim Dean of Engineering Steve Taylor kicks off the 2023 Spring Awards Ceremony.

Spring awards recognize outstanding students, faculty, staff and alumni
4/14/23 1:45 PM

The Auburn University Samuel Ginn College of Engineering hosted its annual spring awards ceremony, which recognizes students, faculty, staff and alumni who have shown outstanding leadership and devotion to the college.

Friday's event will discuss the need to prioritize resilience of U.S. space systems.

McCrary Institute to host virtual roundtable on securing space
4/11/23 2:25 PM

Event Will Discuss Need to Prioritize Resilience of U.S. Space Systems