Dr. Ricardo Vinuesa, associate professor of aerospace engineering at Michigan Aerospace Engineering, was featured in The New York Post article “‘Catastrophic’ airplane turbulence is only getting worse — go inside the billion-dollar race to solve it.” The article discusses how AI can be used to design aircraft that can fly through turbulence Continue Reading »
Tag: aerospace engineering
Michigan Aerospace Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Goddard’s Rocket Launch
On March 16, 2026, the U-M Department of Aerospace Engineering community came together to celebrate a momentous occasion, honoring the legacy and impact of Dr. Robert Goddard and the 100th anniversary of the launch of the first-ever successful liquid-fuel rocket.
The People Behind SPAR: Tate Gill
Tate Gill, an assistant research scientist within the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory (PEPL), has taken on the technical leadership role as head of the institute’s propulsion division. Since receiving a $35 million award from the USSF University Consortium in late 2024, the University of Michigan has continued to lead one of the nation’s largest efforts to advance space power and propulsion through Space Power and Propulsion for Agility, Responsiveness and Resilience (SPAR) Institute.
Alumna Aisha Bowe Ready to Launch on Historic All-Women Space Flight
Aisha Bowe, an alumna from Michigan Aerospace, is set to board the first-ever all-women Blue Origin flight, scheduled to launch on April 14, 2025. This historic flight will be Blue Origin’s 11th human space mission that will cross the Kármán line – the internationally recognized boundary between Earth’s atmosphere and outer space, 62 miles (100 km) above Earth.
SPAR Set Its Sights on the Future of the Institute
The SPAR Institute was formed to develop spacecraft that can “maneuver without regret,” with funding from the U.S. Space Force, and is set to bring fast chemical rockets together with efficient electric propulsion powered by a nuclear microreactor. As the eight universities and 14 industry partners and advisers come together to tackle the initiative, the SPAR Institute is now one of the nation’s largest efforts to advance space power and propulsion.
What Industry Wants: Model-Based Systems Engineering
George Halow, a professor of practice at Michigan Aerospace Engineering, launched a model-based systems engineering course that takes students from customer concept to design or prototype inside two semesters, often mentored by engineers at big name corporate sponsors.
“Flight, Space and Rockets Pay a Visit to a School in Milan”
Students from the University of Michigan Department of Aerospace Engineering, were featured in the Sun Times News about their visit to Symons Elementary School in Milan, MI. The article was titled “Flight, Space and Rockets Pay a Visit to a School in Milan.” | February 28, 2025
Kick-Off Meeting Held for the $35M U-M SPAR Institute
The five-year, $35M Space Power and Propulsion for Agility, Responsiveness and Resilience (SPAR) Institute held its official kick-off meeting on December 4, 2024.
NASA AACES Initiative Calls on Electra Partnership with U-M
Electra.aero, Inc. has been awarded the first contract from NASA’s Advanced Aircraft Concepts for Environmental Sustainability (AACES) 2050 initiative. The award will look to Electra to develop technologies for reduced carbon emissions in commercial airliners while working alongside the University of Michigan.
“U-M Selected by the U.S. Space Force for Research Development Institute”
Dr. Benjamin Jorns, an associate professor for Michigan Aerospace Engineering and the director of the Plasmadynamics and Electric Propulsion Laboratory (PEPL), was featured in “U-M selected by the U.S. Space Force for research development institute” for The Michigan Daily. The University will receive $34.9 million in funding to work alongside the Rochester Continue Reading »