Founded January 31, 1963 Members 30,000 | Area served Worldwide | |
Type Professional Organization Origins Merger of the American Rocket Society and the Institute of the Aerospace Sciences Method Industry standards, Conferences, Publications | ||
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is a professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of two earlier societies: the American Rocket Society (ARS), founded in 1930 as the American Interplanetary Society (AIS), and the Institute of the Aerospace Sciences (IAS), founded in 1932 as the Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences.
Contents
- Journals
- The AIAA Foundation
- Student branches
- Goddard Astronautics Award
- Reed Aeronautics Award
- Holt Ashley Award for Aeroelasticity
- Lectureships
- Missile Systems Award
- Wyld Propulsion Award
- Conferences
- References
AIAA is the U.S. representative on the International Astronautical Federation and the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences. As of 2015, AIAA has more than 30,000 members among aerospace professionals worldwide, although the majority are American and/or live in the United States.
Journals
As a major activity AIAA currently publishes several technical journals. The AIAA Journal is published on a monthly basis and serves as the flagship journal of the society. In January 2015 the Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics became the second AIAA journal published on a monthly basis. The other journals are published bi-monthly and have more specialized topics:
AIAA's flagship magazine, Aerospace America is distributed monthly to all members, and is published online in digital format. AIAA also produces several series of technical books ranging from education to progress in advanced research topics.
The AIAA Foundation
AIAA formed the AIAA Foundation to devote more attention and more resources to the education of both practicing and future aerospace professionals. The AIAA Foundation funds numerous scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduate scholarships range from $2,000 to $2,500. Graduate scholarships are $5,000 or $10,000.
Student branches
AIAA currently has over 6,500 student members in 160 active student branches, including 12 foreign student branches. The student branches host annual conferences
Goddard Astronautics Award
AIAA's highest award for astronautics. It was endowed by Mrs. Robert Goddard in commemoration of her husband's pioneering efforts that led to the development of the fields of astronautics.
Reed Aeronautics Award
AIAA's highest award for aeronautical science and engineering. It is named for Dr. Sylvanus A. Reed pioneer of the use of metal in propellor blades.
Holt Ashley Award for Aeroelasticity
Initiated by the founder of Zonatech and given every four years for those who have contributed significantly to the area of aeroelasticity. It is named after famous aeroelastician Prof. Holt Ashley who served as a faculty member at MIT and Stanford. Selection is monitored/coordinated by the awards sub-committee of AIAA Structural Dynamics technical group.
Lectureships
Missile Systems Award
The AIAA Missile Systems Award may be presented in two categories, Technical and Management. The Technical Award is presented for a significant accomplishment in developing or using technology that is required for missile systems. The candidate must have demonstrated expertise in aerodynamics, guidance, thermophysics, navigation, control, propulsion, or other fundamental technical disciplines that has led to substantial improvement in missile systems. The Technical and Management award are presently alternatively at the biannual Missile Sciences Conference. Thus, the awards are presented once every four years. The 2008 Technical Award winner was Ernest Ohlmeyer. The award is administered by the AIAA Missile Systems Technical Committee.
Wyld Propulsion Award
This award is presented annually to honor "outstanding achievement in the development or application of rocket propulsion systems". The award honors James Hart Wyld.
Conferences
AIAA hosts many conferences and smaller events throughout the year. The largest of those is the AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition (“SciTech”). Others include AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum and Exposition, AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum and Exposition, and AIAA Space and Astronautics Forum and Exposition.