University of Michigan Aerospace Engineering

05/22/2026

New Space Power and Propulsion for Agility, Responsiveness and Resilience (SPAR) Institute YouTube video!

Over the next several weeks, we will release new videos, in partnership with SPAR, highlighting aspects of the effort from key members of the institute.

This week, Azer Yalin, Mechanical Engineering Professor from Colorado State University, explains how advanced optical diagnostics help researchers understand how new plasma thrusters operate and how emerging propellants affect performance.

Watch the seventh video in the series and catch up on any SPAR-related content on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mor6zyc9lA

Stay tuned for next week, when we dive further into SPAR's efforts!

Azer Yalin explains how advanced optical diagnostics help researche...

05/21/2026

Last month, the University of Michigan AIAA student branch welcomed over 150 attendees to North Campus for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics’ (AIAA) Region III Student Conference.

During the event, students welcomed retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and U-M Center for Entrepreneurship Lecturer David Brewer as the event’s keynote speaker. Beyond Professor Brewer’s involvement, there were also 43 student paper presentations, representing students from 13 colleges and three high schools. This year’s conference was notably the first to feature high school presentations, during which students were awarded cash prizes for their work.

Of the 43 paper presentations, two U-M student teams received awards in two different categories. This included:

- The “Examination of the Viability of Reclaimed Gas Electric Propulsion for Orbit Maintenance of Human Space Stations” student team, which received first place in the team paper presentation category

- The “Hybrid Actuator Control Allocation: A Hardware Comparison of QP and PI Allocators on an Air Spindle Testbed” team, which placed second in the Graduate category

Please join us in congratulating the U-M AIAA students on a successful event, as well as all of the paper presentation award recipients! Read more about the event here: https://aero.engin.umich.edu/2026/05/15/aiaa-region-iii-student-conference-hosted-by-the-university-of-michigan-student-branch/

U-M AIAA student branch proudly hosts student conference, multiple students receive paper presentation awards

05/21/2026

To establish a legacy of support, encouragement and community, the Dontchev family, led by mother Dora, and her children, Kiko and Mira, have established the Asen Dontchev Family Engineering Student Award. The award stands in honor of their late husband, father and University of Michigan mentor Asen Dontchev and his impact on students and the U-M community.

By establishing this fund, they hope to “pay it forward,” ensuring that today’s students have access to the same kinds of opportunities that made a lasting impact on them. Find out more here: https://aero.engin.umich.edu/2026/04/30/asen-dontchev-family-engineering-student-award/

The Dontchev family establishes new student award fund in honor of an outstanding legacy

05/19/2026

Throughout 2026, Undergraduate Academic Services Advisor Stephanie Custer has received numerous honors and accolades underscoring her expertise and commitment to the students within the U-M Aerospace Engineering program. Most recently, we are proud to announce that she has received the Advising Council of U-M (ACUM) Outstanding Advising Award in recognition of her coaching values and her dedication towards student success!

This award comes in addition to recently winning the Department’s Mart Stenzel Staff Dedication Award earlier this semester and being selected as an Advising Fellow within the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (OVPUE) for the fall of 2026.

Please join us in congratulating her on all of her achievements and learn more about her work within the department here: https://aero.engin.umich.edu/2026/05/14/acum-outstanding-advisor-award/

Academic advisor Stephanie Custer receives highly regarded advising award

05/15/2026

New Space Power and Propulsion for Agility, Responsiveness and Resilience (SPAR) Institute YouTube video!

Over the next several weeks, we will release new videos, in partnership with SPAR, highlighting aspects of the effort from key members of the institute.

This week, Elaine Petro from the Space Infrastructure Laboratory explains how computational models help researchers better understand the chemistry and plasma physics inside electric propulsion devices.

Watch the seventh video in the series and catch up on any SPAR-related content on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34ft1mmhSq8

Stay tuned for next week, when we dive further into SPAR's efforts!

Elaine Petro explains how computational models help researchers better understand the chemistry and plasma physics inside electric propulsion devices. Her re...

05/15/2026

It is time for the Michigan Aeronautical Science Association (MASA) rocket launch weekend!

Students on the MASA student team have arrived in California this week in preparation for launching their newest rocket, Limelight. As the team gears up for the launch weekend, they have taken over the Michigan Aerospace Instagram page to share with you all the highlights and behind-the-scenes of a successful launch.

MASA is aiming to launch on Saturday, May 16! Follow along on our Instagram page to see all the details directly from the students: https://www.instagram.com/umichaero/

05/14/2026

05/12/2026

Congratulations to U-M Aerospace Engineering Professor Aaron Johnson on receiving the College of Engineering’s 2026 Outstanding Student Organization Advisor Award!

Over the past several semesters, Professor Johnson has served as a dedicated mentor to a variety of student organizations and project teams, including the Women in Aeronautics and Astronautics Rocketry Program (WAARP), the Michigan In-Space Servicing Orbiter (MISO) team, and the Black Students in Aerospace (BSA) student organization. Beyond his involvement with individual student organizations, he also leads the Macroethics - Addressing our Responsibility to Society (MARS) Dialogues, a discussion series he founded to create space for meaningful conversations around complex societal and ethical issues.

Please join us in congratulating Professor Johnson and learn more about his involvement and impact in the department here: https://aero.engin.umich.edu/2026/05/07/professor-aaron-johnson-receives-advising-award-from-college-of-engineering/

Aerospace Engineering Assistant Professor honored with Outstanding Student Organization Advisor Award

05/08/2026

New Space Power and Propulsion for Agility, Responsiveness and Resilience (SPAR) Institute YouTube video!

Over the next several weeks, we will release new videos, in partnership with SPAR, highlighting aspects of the effort from key members of the institute.

In this episode, John Williams, the Director of the Electric Propulsion & Plasma Engineering Laboratory at Colorado State University, describes research into cathodes capable of operating with alternative propellants for advanced electric thrusters. Watch the seventh video in the series here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsWxNZLICcM

Stay tuned for next week, when we dive further into SPAR's efforts!

John Williams describes research into cathodes capable of operating with alternative propellants for advanced electric thrusters. His work contributes to the...

05/07/2026

A new student award in honor of late husband, father and University of Michigan mentor, Asen Dontchev, has been developed to provide support for Aerospace Engineering students to travel and present their research at conferences around the world.

Through the Asen Dontchev Family Engineering Student Award, students will receive meaningful support for travel expenses, conference fees, experiential learning opportunities, and more, thanks to the generosity of the Dontchev family.

Learn more about the fund and legacy of Asen Dontchev here: https://aero.engin.umich.edu/2026/04/30/asen-dontchev-family-engineering-student-award/

The Dontchev family establishes new student award fund in honor of an outstanding legacy

05/06/2026

Congratulations to Aerospace Engineering senior, Norah Murphy, who was awarded the Excellence in Student Leadership Award from the University of Michigan Spectrum Center. This award is given to a member of the graduating Lavender Class or student organization whose work throughout the academic year has made a lasting and significant change in the LGBTQIA2S+ community at the University of Michigan.

“I have really enjoyed my time in Aero, mostly because of the amazing community I’ve found in the department. The best part of my undergraduate experience has been my interactions with friends, peers, mentors, professors, etc. I really don’t know where I would be without them. Within my leadership, I really hope to create spaces where people feel welcome and included, so that they may find the same sense of community I experienced,” Norah stated.

Read more about the award and Murphy's journey through U-M here: https://aero.engin.umich.edu/2026/05/01/norah-murphy-receives-excellence-in-student-leadership-award/

Senior in Aerospace Engineering honored at the Spectrum Center's Lavender Graduation