Department of Astronautical Engineering
News

USC Engineers Prepare to Listen as Orion Heads for the Moon

Feb 27, 2026A 4.5-meter dish antenna on the USC campus will join 33 other ground stations contributing to a study of how spacecraft signals behave at lunar distance.

USC Astronautics PhD Student on the Emerging Area of Space Sustainability

Feb 25, 2026At the 7th Summit for Space Sustainability in Paris, USC PhD student José Pedro Ferreira raised awareness of the potential impacts of space activities in the atmosphere and the need for emerging research to be reflected in global governance.

No Time for Trial and Error: How to Speed Up the Discovery of the Next Super-Alloy

Feb 19, 2026A 3D-printing technique co-developed at USC has enabled the rapid discovery of a new alloy that can withstand extreme heat.

ASTE Instructors Honored at NASA Awards Ceremony

Jan 31, 2026NASA’s Exceptional Public Achievement Medals are awarded to researchers and engineers who have made significant contributions to the advancement of space exploration.

Ever Wondered What Alumnus Neil Armstrong Learned at USC?

Dec 22, 2025How to follow the peak experience of a lunar landing? Earn a graduate degree from USC.

Azad Madni Honored by ASME with Spirit of St. Louis Medal

Dec 01, 2025Azad Madni to receive ASME’s Spirit of St. Louis Medal at 2026 ASME SSDM

What Would It Take to Eat Breakfast on the Moon?

Nov 17, 2025At LA Tech Week, a USC Information Sciences Institute panel explores the infrastructure, policies, and partnerships shaping the new space race.

USC Rocket Propulsion Lab Launches First Payload

Nov 04, 2025The successful launch of USCRPL's latest rocket, Malibu, marks a major turning point for the record-breaking student team: the ability to send a payload up to space.

Space Robotics at the Edge of the Unknown

Oct 28, 2025The USC Department of Astronautical Engineering (ASTE) is expanding its focus on space robotics, with an emphasis on autonomous systems that can operate in extreme and unmapped environments.

Space Robotics Platform Astrobee Set for Commercial Transition for ISS Operations

Oct 15, 2025USC/ISI hosted researchers and startups to discuss NASA's Astrobee for next-generation space robotics

The Society of Women Engineers Recognizes Azad Madni

Sep 12, 2025Madni to receive the 2025 Rodney Chipp Memorial Award from SWE

Turning Research Into Reality: USC Launches New Tech Innovation Fellowship

Jun 03, 2025Two visionary company founders set the stage for groundbreaking research to become thriving startups

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

May 19, 2025At the USC Viterbi undergraduate commencement ceremony, the next generation of engineers are encouraged to advance technology that solves the world's grand challenges.

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

May 19, 2025At the USC Viterbi master's commencement ceremonies, Dean Yannis C. Yortsos praised graduates on the "singular achievement" of earning their master's degree.

“Building A Better World:” Dean Yannis C. Yortsos Tells Graduates They Will Make A Difference

May 15, 2025The 2025 Ph.D. Hooding and Awards Ceremony honors 150 new graduates and Haotian Hang, winner of this year's best Ph.D. thesis

Imagining the Future of Deep Space Habitats

May 12, 2025PhD student Ulubilge Ulusoy researches optimal collaboration between humans and AI during maintenance operations in deep space habitats.

From Space Camp to NASA Mission Control

May 12, 2025Graduating astronautical engineering student Paige Kaufman launched the Space Spiels podcast and now she's on her way to the NASA Johnson Space Center.

A USC Swim Team Captain Dreams of Space Travel

May 12, 2025Kaitlyn Dobler, a graduating master's student in astronautical engineering, applies the discipline she has learned as a swimmer to project such as researching the atmosphere of Venus.

From Lego, to Electric Racecars, to SpaceX

May 12, 2025Graduating mechanical engineering student PJ Morgan's involvement with USC Formula Electric led to a prestigious internship at SpaceX.

USC Viterbi’s CURVE Program Hosts Annual Student Research Showcase

Apr 29, 2025135 student presentations address health, security, sustainability and how to enrich life

ASTE Papers at the 46th IEEE Aerospace Conference

Apr 23, 2025Paper topics ranged from the development of robots for maintenance tasks in space, to tackling the problem of space debris, to exploring new concepts for energy-efficient, low-cost space missions.

How Alex Gasca Went From Building Islands on Earth to Infrastructure for Space

Apr 23, 2025Relativity Space infrastructure engineer credits USC Viterbi master's program in Emerging Technologies in Construction with aiding new career in space engineering.

ASTE and AME Students Present Winning Projects at the AIAA Conference

Apr 09, 2025USC AME and ASTE students participated in the AIAA Region VI Student Conference at the University of California, Irvine, March 29-30.

Adjunct Professor Ryan Park Awarded the 2025 IEEE AESS Judith A. Resnik Space Award

Apr 01, 2025Ryan Park, adjunct professor of astronautical engineering, has been awarded the 2025 Judith A. Resnik Space Award for his important contributions to the study of gravity and planetary science.

Celebrating 20 Years of USC Viterbi Astronautical Engineering

Feb 21, 2025The 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.

USC Viterbi Hosts Honeywell Hypersonics & Emerging Technologies Industry Day

Jan 13, 2025Leading industry representatives, academics and students gathered on campus to discuss the future of hypersonic technology.

Senior Design Projects Tackle Today’s Top Engineering Problems

Dec 18, 2024Students in the USC Department of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering apply their learning to address some of the most pressing technological challenges facing industry today.

USC Researcher Explores Human-AI Collaboration for Future Space Missions

Dec 12, 2024Ulubilge Ulusoy, a PhD candidate in the USC Department of Astronautical Engineering (ASTE), researches how astronauts and AI can learn to collaborate more effectively for deep space missions.

Undergraduate Faith Colon Wins Prestigious AIAA Scholarship

Nov 22, 2024The USC Viterbi junior received the Lockheed Martin Marillyn Hewson Scholarship for excellence in astronautical engineering

USC Student Rocket Group Shatters International Amateur Space Record

Nov 15, 2024Aftershock II is believed to be the world’s first civilian-built rocket to reach an altitude of 470,000 feet.

USC Space Engineering Students Showcase Innovation at International Conference

Nov 06, 2024Students from USC's Space Engineering Research Center present six research projects at the International Astronautical Conference in Milan, Italy.

USC Viterbi AI Startups Thrive

Aug 20, 2024Defying rollercoaster AI investment trends, startups founded by alumni and faculty at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering have consistently seen success in VC funding.

Insects, Balloons and Rockets: How One Scholarship Enables Flight

Aug 01, 2024Autumn Zaretsky, Doug Peacock Scholar, seeks to push the boundaries of what is known and what can be known.

USC Viterbi Students Present at the International Electric Propulsion Conference in France

Jul 16, 2024Students attended the 38th International Electric Propulsion Conference (IEPC) held in Toulouse, France, where they presented a paper about their project to develop a low-power solid-fuel plasma thruster for de-orbiting CubeSats.

USC Liquid Propulsion Lab is Advancing Reusable Rocket Research

Jun 12, 2024The student-run team tackles the challenge of designing regeneratively cooled reusable rocket engines.

Azad Madni Receives Prestigious National Awards

Jun 06, 2024University professor elected as AIAA honorary fellow and receives Distinguished Career Award from the Washington Academy of Sciences.

Ph.D. Student Tackles the Environmental Impact of Spacecraft Re-Entry

Jun 05, 2024José P. Ferreira, a doctoral candidate in astronautical engineering, has received the prestigious Space for Sustainability Award from the European Space Agency (ESA).

From Dreams to Degrees: USC Viterbi Class of 2024 Graduates Shape Tomorrow, Today

May 11, 2024At the forefront of engineering and technology, graduates like Christian Bryan redefine potential with degrees in cutting-edge fields and a commitment to lifelong exploration.

Master’s Class of 2024: “The Best So Far”

May 11, 2024At the USC Viterbi master’s commencement ceremonies, Dean Yannis C. Yortsos praised graduates’ resilience, ingenuity and integrity

First-Gen Student Leads the USC Liquid Propulsion Lab

May 08, 2024Soon to launch into a career at one of the nation's top space companies, graduating student Danetti Martino has already gained ground as lead engineer of one of the nation's top student rocketry labs.

Propelled by Mentorship, an Astronautical Engineer’s Path To Success

May 08, 2024For graduating student Brooke Rios, the path to engineering excellence was discovered in the powerful alliances she forged along the way.

Launching an Astronautics Startup: A Student Entrepreneur’s Journey

May 08, 2024Graduating engineer James Austin went from small-town roots to becoming a startup founder developing a new space launch system.

An Astronautics Polymath Discovers a Talent for Robotics

May 07, 2024Graduating student Henry Adam was too curious to specialize early on - by allowing his interests to roam, he managed to achieve more than most goal-oriented engineers.

Solving The Space Dilemma

Apr 17, 2024USC ISI researchers are building tools to solve safety problems in space operations, and creating test beds to simulate cyberattacks in space

AME and ASTE Students Awarded at the 2024 AIAA Conference

Apr 01, 2024AME teams received 2nd and 3rd place in the Undergraduate Teams category.

Graduate Students Present Papers at the 45th IEEE Aerospace Conference

Mar 21, 2024Paper topics ranged from designs for space robots, to management of space debris, to support for astronauts conducting maintenance in space habitats.

Professor Mike Gruntman participates in Symposium on Space Sciences and Technologies at M. S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru

Mar 07, 2024Professor Gruntman helped to organize the symposium, and took part in a panel discussion where he discussed opportunities in space for students in India.

USC Rocket Propulsion Lab is Ready to Return to Space

Dec 07, 2023The stellar USC Astronautics team has now set the record for the most powerful motor ever fired by a student group - so, what's next?

Professor Azad Madni Awarded ASME Honorary Membership

Nov 20, 2023Professor Azad Madni is awarded Honorary Membership by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

Too Close for Comfort: USC Viterbi Students Use AI to Prevent Aircraft Collisions

Nov 17, 2023USC had two teams among top 10 finalists in national FAA Data Challenge 2023.

Anita Sengupta is on a Mission to Decarbonize Aviation

Nov 13, 2023Hydroplane, founded by USC alum Anita Sengupta, receives Minority Emerging Technology and Industries Firm of the Year Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

USC Viterbi at The Economist Space Economy Summit

Oct 20, 2023USC Viterbi leadership and alumni join global thought-leaders in debate about the economic growth of a multi-billion dollar industry.

Space Archaeology at 17,000 Miles Per Hour

Oct 16, 2023The preliminary findings from the first ever archaeological study of the ISS are shared during a presentation at USC.

Faculty and Students Pay Tribute to Software Engineering Pioneer Barry Boehm

Sep 28, 2023Boehm is remembered as a dedicated researcher and a “wonderful advisor”, who greatly shaped the life of his students and colleagues.

DEN@Viterbi celebrates 50 years of high-impact distance learning

Sep 28, 2023The progressive pedagogy of the pioneering distance learning program has changed the lives of graduate students worldwide.

Low Cost and Lightweight Hardware will Transform the Space Industry

Jul 20, 2023USC astronautics professor plays a crucial role in developing hardware for NASA’s first commercial payload to the Moon.

USC Students Advance Augmented Reality for Artemis Astronauts

Jun 05, 2023NASA SUITS challenges students to boost astronauts' capacity for safe and ambitious exploration.

First USC Research Prototype Launches for Testing on the International Space Station

Jun 02, 2023CLINGERS, a unique docking system, is designed to facilitate sensing and docking operations in space.

So You’d Like a Job at the Largest Aerospace Company in the World?

May 26, 2023Unique partnership between Boeing and USC Viterbi allows paid summer internships, tuition expenses and a full time position after graduation.

Wide Awake and Dreaming: USC Viterbi’s 2023 Master’s Commencement Ceremonies

May 13, 2023The class of 2023 is "the best educated, the most representative in our history."

“At Heart, We’re Problem Solvers:” USC Viterbi Undergraduate Commencement 2023

May 13, 2023This year’s ceremony at Alumni Park was headlined by alumnus and venture capitalist, Mark Stevens, who praised the power and versatility of an engineering degree

“Attention is All You Need”: New Ph.D.s Urged to Attend to “Challenges of Earth’s Eight Billion People.”

May 12, 2023The 2023 Ph.D. Hooding and Awards Ceremony honors 133 new graduates and Jiaoyang Li, winner of this year's best Ph.D. thesis.

NAE’s 2023 Gordon Prize Ceremony Celebrates the Career of Azad Madni

May 04, 2023For the second year in a row, USC hosts the top award in engineering education.

More Debris, More Problems: Building Technology to Clean Up Space

Apr 04, 2023Researchers at USC Viterbi's Information Sciences Institute are building machines to help rid junk from the atmosphere.

First 3D Printed Rocket, Created by Trojan Engineers, Soars Into the Upper Atmosphere

Mar 23, 2023The co-founders of Relativity Space eye their next big steps: investing in space start-ups and reaching Earth orbit.

Former Students Pioneer Edge Computing In Space

Mar 14, 2023From the lab to outer space, these former ISIers are launching more than just a company.

Six Weeks to Mars? Viterbi Alums Are Building Powerful, Versatile Rocket Engines

Feb 15, 2023Ursa Major, a company with 13 alumni, seeks to democratize access to space

Alumnus Makes Space Dreams Come True

Jan 30, 2023Propulsion engineer Roderic Vanderscoff helps Firefly Aerospace's Alpha rocket reach orbit

Azad Madni Receives NAE’s 2023 Gordon Prize

Jan 05, 2023For second year in a row, a Trojan receives top award in engineering education

Azad Madni Receives the Prestigious IEEE Simon Ramo Medal

Jan 05, 2023Madni is being honored for pioneering contributions to model-based systems engineering, education, and industrial impact using interdisciplinary approaches

Powered by Honor

Nov 09, 2022Two decades as a Navy pilot taught Will Pressley, M.S. '17, what it takes to succeed as a military leader. (Hint: The answer's not in "Top Gun: Maverick.")

USC Viterbi DEN Course Offered in Ukraine Hopes to Rebuild Space Industry

Oct 07, 2022Free, online astronautics course is a humanitarian effort to maintain Ukraine’s academic excellence in astronautics

Have You Ever Played Piano in Zero Gravity? Jose Ferreira Has.

Oct 04, 2022USC Viterbi Ph.D. student takes music to new heights, combining his love of space with the arts

Artificial Intelligence in Space – USC’s Information Sciences Institute is on a Mission

Oct 03, 2022Astronaut Danny Olivas joins ISI's Visual Intelligence and Multimedia Analytics Laboratory (VIMAL) to look for ways to use AI in space.

USC Students Compete in Augmented Reality NASA SUITS Challenge

Jul 01, 2022The team was one of 10 selected by NASA to design an AR interface for lunar, Martian exploration.

When Will Space Flight Be As Safe as Air Flight?

May 18, 2022USC Viterbi adjunct professor and rocket scientist, Michael Kezirian, makes a case for why advancing space safety measures advances space exploration.

“The Best Educated Class In Our History”

May 14, 2022At the 2022 commencement ceremony, undergraduates shared laughter, tears and hugs as they embark on a new journey

“The World Impatiently Waits For You”: 1100 USC Viterbi Master’s Students Graduate

May 14, 2022First in-person, satellite ceremonies in two years feature four-star general and former CEO of Yahoo and Verizon Media as speakers

“Do Better Than Us”: Three Years of USC Viterbi Ph.D.s Receive Their Hoods.

May 12, 2022At the 2022 Ph.D. Hooding and Awards Ceremony, 215 new graduates join Trojan forebears like Andrew Viterbi and Wanda Austin.

USC and UA Students Are Developing an AR Interface to Inform Lunar Astronauts of Location, Vitals

Apr 28, 2022 Finalists in NASA "SUITS Up" Next Generation Astronaut Challenge Hopes to Foster Lunar Exploration

“Life Is Matter Plus Algorithms”

Feb 07, 2022Annual USC Viterbi-Axilor Series Inspires Innovators and Entrepreneurs

USC Launches its 3rd Satellite into Space

Jan 13, 2022Satellite Dodona, with its novel Lockheed Martin La Jument payloads, is part of SpaceX's Smallsat Rideshare Program, will ride Transporter 3 mission to space

The Future of Solar System Modeling and Potential to Identify New Bodies

Sep 23, 2021USC Viterbi Adjunct Associate Professor and JPL Principal Engineer Ryan Park will work on a new commission to produce high precision solar system models, potentially improving our ability to navigate and understand outer space.

Undergraduate Researchers Impress Viterbi Community With CURVE Symposium Posters

Jul 22, 2021Over 100 USC Viterbi undergraduates present their year-long research projects virtually at the 2021 Viterbi Research Symposium

Ten USC Viterbi Students Honored with Aerospace Fellowship

Jun 25, 2021A collaboration between the USC WiSE program and the Aerospace Corporation, this prestigious fellowship offers students the opportunity to gain real-life industry experience and develop their skills

Commencement 2021: Engineering Grads Take Center Stage at L.A. Coliseum For First Time in 71 Years

May 21, 2021In a return to in-person graduation, the Class of 2020 and 2021 celebrate “passage to a post-COVID new world”

Class of 2021: Shobhita Rajashekar

May 12, 2021Master's student and class of 2021 graduate Shobhita Rajashekar hopes to get each and every one of us curious about space.

How Do You Build a Rocket Without a Lab?

Apr 14, 2021How USC’s renowned Rocket Propulsion Laboratory took one of the most hands-on clubs on campus remote.

Five Questions about Space with Garrett Reisman

Feb 10, 2021An audio conversation about space tourism, sustainability and pizza.

USC Viterbi Professors Azad Madni and Jong-Shi Pang Inducted into the National Academy of Engineering

Feb 09, 2021An optimization expert who harnesses mathematics to improve industries and a leader in astronautical and systems engineering are USC Viterbi’s newest members of the National Academy of Engineering.

Mr. “Astropreneur”

Jan 12, 2021Joe Landon has spent more than a decade working toward the day when millions of people can live and work in space

STARFISH: Space Exploration’s Newest Star

Nov 24, 2020USC's Space and Engineering Research Center looks to the star-shaped sea creature for their groundbreaking soft robotics project.

Azad Madni Receives Prestigious Award from National Defense Industrial Association

Nov 19, 2020Professor of astronautical engineering and director of the Systems Architecting and Engineering program receives individual recognition for his contributions to the systems engineering discipline.

USC Viterbi Student and Air Force Officer Makes Plans to Go to Space

Nov 07, 2020U.S. Air Force officer and astronautical engineering graduate student, Edward Proulx, prepares to fly into space at USC.

After a record-breaking deployment Navy Officer returns to USC for second graduate degree

Nov 07, 2020Jonathan Messer, M.S. ’18, put his systems engineering degree to use during a global pandemic and a humanitarian mission in Central America. He’s now taking it to outer space.

Unlocking the Secrets of the Smallest Dwarf Planet

Oct 08, 2020JPL Engineer and Adjunct USC Viterbi Professor Ryan Park confirms that dwarf planet Ceres is water-rich and geologically active.

USC Wins First Place in the AIAA Small Satellite Student Competition

Sep 03, 2020USC Viterbi students design an ionic electrospray thruster to help fill in the propulsion gap for small satellites.

One Giant LEAPFROG For Humanity

Jul 15, 2020USC students and researchers at ISI SERC are building a lunar landing flight vehicle as part of NASA’s Artemis program.

USC Student Team Makes NASA RASC-AL Competition Finals

Jun 16, 2020The design team will present its design on Wednesday, June 17 at 10:50 a.m. PST. Livestream will be available.

The 2020 Undergraduate Student Awards

May 27, 2020Motivated to engineer a better world for all humanity, USC Viterbi celebrates graduates who have pursued academic excellence and impacted their communities.

Department of Astronautical Engineering News

Department of Astronautical Engineering
News