USC Viterbi Department of Astronautical Engineering

Celebrating 20 Years of USC Viterbi Astronautical Engineering
The academic program and its record-breaking student-run USC Rocket Propulsion Lab are celebrating 20 years of advancing space exploration through stellar research and teaching.
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Astronautical Engineering News
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Aftershock II is believed to be the world’s first civilian-built rocket to reach an altitude of 470,000 feet.
The student-run team tackles the challenge of designing regeneratively cooled reusable rocket engines.
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Hydroplane, founded by USC alum Anita Sengupta, receives Minority Emerging Technology and Industries Firm of the Year Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
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Associate Professor Ivan Bermejo-Moreno receives a NASA Early Career Faculty Award for computational studies of hypersonic flight.
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CLINGERS, a unique docking system, is designed to facilitate sensing and docking operations in space.

Department of Astronautical Engineering

Advanced Research and Educational Training for the Global Space Enterprise

Astronautical Engineering at USC Viterbi

Astronautical Engineering encompasses the dynamic and cutting-edge fields of advanced science and space technology. Space engineers design, build and operate rockets and missiles, space launchers, communications and direct broadcasting satellites, space navigational systems, remote sensing and reconnaissance satellites, space vehicles for human spaceflight, and planetary probes.

There is no better academic major than Astronautical Engineering in which to obtain the education and to acquire the skills needed for space engineers.

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Space Shuttle
Astronauts

Trojans in Space

Do you know how many Trojan astronauts were in space?
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Astronautical Engineering News

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Space Robotics Platform Astrobee Set for Commercial Transition for ISS Operations
Space Robotics Platform Astrobee Set for Commercial Transition for ISS Operations

USC/ISI hosted researchers and startups to discuss NASA’s Astrobee for next-generation space robotics

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The Society of Women Engineers Recognizes Azad Madni
The Society of Women Engineers Recognizes Azad Madni

Madni to receive the 2025 Rodney Chipp Memorial Award from SWE

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Turning Research Into Reality: USC Launches New Tech Innovation Fellowship
Turning Research Into Reality: USC Launches New Tech Innovation Fellowship

Two visionary company founders set the stage for groundbreaking research to become thriving startups

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Excellence, Curiosity, Character: The Graduates of the USC Viterbi Class of 2025
Excellence, Curiosity, Character: The Graduates of the USC Viterbi Class of 2025

At the USC Viterbi undergraduate commencement ceremony, the next generation of engineers are encouraged to advance technology that solves the world’s grand challenges.

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“You Are Agents of Change”: The USC Viterbi Master’s Class of 2025
“You Are Agents of Change”: The USC Viterbi Master’s Class of 2025

At the USC Viterbi master’s commencement ceremonies, Dean Yannis C. Yortsos praised graduates on the “singular achievement” of earning their master’s degree.

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Astronautical Engineering in Media

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Spectrum News: From USC to NASA: How SoCal is powering the next space race
Spectrum News: From USC to NASA: How SoCal is powering the next space race

Garrett Reisman and Dave Barnhart were interviewed about alumna Katherine Spies becoming an astronaut and how USC is preparing students to take part in the space economy.

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IFL Science: SpaceX Makes History By Orbiting Over The Earth’s Poles
IFL Science: SpaceX Makes History By Orbiting Over The Earth’s Poles

Mike Gruntman was interviewed about SpaceX’s Fram2 mission which overcame challenges such as increased radiation exposure and the lack of Earth’s rotational boost.

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CNN: SpaceX Starship IFT 8 Launch
CNN: SpaceX Starship IFT 8 Launch

Garrett Reisman was interviewed by CNN, NBC, and ABC about the SpaceX launch.

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Space.com: Space.com: Electric spacecraft propulsion may soon take a leap, thanks to new supercomputer
Space.com: Space.com: Electric spacecraft propulsion may soon take a leap, thanks to new supercomputer

A report on a research project conducted by Professor Joseph Wang (USC) and Professor Chen Cui (University of Virginia)

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Reuters: Trump’s NASA pick
Reuters: Trump’s NASA pick

Garrett Reisman was interviewed about the potential for Jared Isaacman to lead NASA.

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Published on February 23rd, 2017Last updated on October 20th, 2025