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  • Posted in: Houston Section

    Norman Chaffee passed away peacefully at his home on the morning of May 24th, 2024. Norm was born in Providence, Rhode Island and given the nickname Bing as a youngster. Raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Norm attended Rice University and the University of Tulsa, ...

  • Posted in: Houston Section

    Howdy! AIAA Houston's 2024-2025 Executive Officer elections open today and will close in one week. AIAA Houston members should receive ballot links from an @electionrunner account sent to the email address they filed with AIAA. The ballot ...

  • Posted in: Houston Section

    The AIAA Houston summer kickoff / networking and social event scheduled tomorrow (Thur. May 16) at Nobi is cancelled. Weather forecasts suggest heavy rain Thursday afternoon and evening in the Houston area, and a flood watch is in effect Thur. ...

  • Posted in: Houston Section

    Associate Fellow Deadline 15 April Do you know an AIAA member who has made outstanding contributions to the aerospace industry? Help us shine a spotlight on their stellar leadership and contributions by nominating them for member advancement, and elevate ...

  • Posted in: Houston Section

    A great chance for SciTech attendees to learn more on AIAA awards and recognition and how to participate. Tuesday, 9 January 2024 2:00 - 4:00pm Hyatt Regency Orlando Plaza H ------------------------------ Alicia Baker, PMP, CSSBB Engineering Project ...

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Announcements

  • Vice Chair elections are ongoing

    Reminder that Vice Chair elections are ongoing - you have until 11:55pm Mon May 27 to cast a ballot. AIAA Houston members should receive ballot links from an @electionrunner account sent to the email address they filed with AIAA.

  • HAPPENING NOW: 2024-2025 executive leadership elections for AIAA Houston

    Howdy! 

    AIAA Houston’s 2024-2025 Executive Officer elections open today and will close in one week. 

     

    AIAA Houston members should receive ballot links from an @electionrunner account sent to the email address they filed with AIAA. The ballot links will expire by 5pm CST Tue. May 28. Election results will be communicated by Thur. May 30. 

     

    The 2024-2025 ballot includes three candidates for Vice Chair. The elected Vice Chair will serve a nominal two year term. The Vice Chair executive position does not have a term limit. 

     

    • WHAT: AIAA Houston 2024-2025 Executive Officer elections

    • OPEN POSITIONS: Vice Chair  

    • BALLOT ACCESS: Online; ballot links sent to AIAA Houston members 

    • ELECTION DURATION: Tue. May 21 through 5pm CST Tue. May 28

    • VOTER ELIGIBILITY: Current AIAA Houston members 

     

    The 2023-2024 Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer will complete the second year of their respective two year terms. The Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer executive positions do not have term limits. 

     

    Please direct questions or concerns to secretary@aiaahouston.org

     

    Sincerely, 

    AIAA Houston

  • April 26th - Lunch & Learn with Special Guest Dr. Albert Allen Jackson IV

    Join AIAA Houston Section for a hybrid Lunch & Learn event with special guest Dr. Albert Allen Jackson IV, on April  26th, 2024 at 11:30 CST in person and over Google Meet
    dr-albert-allen
    Sign up to attend: Lunch-n-Learn Sign Up
    "The Interstellar Ramjet: A Technical History" 
     In 1960 Robert Bussard published a solution to the mass ratio problem for interstellar flight. He laid out the design of a starship that scooped interstellar hydrogen compressed it in a fusion reactor, extracted energy and produced thrust. The process is similar to a terrestrial ramjet. Bussard outlined the propulsion method, presented the equations of motion and made general assessments of performance and propulsion efficiency.
    Sagan suggested magnetic 'scoops' for collecting working
    matter from the interstellar medium. Fishback in 1969 calculated important limitations on the ramjet magnetic intake and quantified drag and radiation losses for the ramjet. Fishback showed there was a limiting Lorentz factor for an interstellar ramjet imposed by the material properties of the scoop source.
    Tony Martin expanded Fishback study and made some important observations. The main problem with the concept was using proton-proton reactions for fusion, this proves very difficult. In 1975 Dan Whitmire made progress towards solving the fusion reactor problem of the interstellar ramjet by noting that one could use the CNO process rather than the PP mechanism as method of fusion operation. Bond and Jackson suggested alternative ramjet operation using augmentation. An alternative to the
    Bussard Ramjet was presented in 1977. The Laser Powered Interstellar Ramjet, LPIR. This vehicle uses a
    solar system-based laser beaming power to a vehicle which scoops interstellar hydrogen and uses a linear
    accelerator to boost the collected particle energy for propulsion bypassing fusion reactor problems.
     Link:
    Or dial: (US) +1 314-474-3017 PIN: 913 841 786#
    Hope to see you there!
    AIAA Houston Section
  • AIAA Monthly Social

    Stop by Hyde Park 5:30-7pm Thursday, April 18 to network and socialize with professionals across Houston's spaceflight industry at AIAA Houston's April Networking and 
    Social event! As always, light food and 2x drink tickets are on us.

    What: AIAA Houston Networking and Social Event

    When: 5:30pm-7pm Thur April 18
    Where: Hyde Park (247 E NASA Pkwy, Webster, TX 77598)

    Who's Invited: Anyone affiliated with the aerospace and spaceflight community

    See you there!
    AIAA Houston Section
  • What's Happening at AIAA Houston

    Join AIAA Houston for these exciting upcoming events, including a virtual, joint event with IEEE - Galveston Bay section: 

    March Social

    Joint IEEE Virtual Event

    Julie Strickland (our section VP) at The ION District

  • "Engineering the Future of Lunar Exploration with Deb Ludban" on Saturday, March 16: SpaceGeekSpeak

    Get ready, space enthusiasts! This Saturday at SpaceGeekSpeak, we’re beyond excited to welcome Debra Ludban, a stellar force behind NASA’s groundbreaking Gateway Program. With a career that took off at the White Sands Test Facility in 2000, Deb has been navigating the vast expanse of space exploration from the Space Shuttle era to the Artemis missions with a blend of engineering brilliance and interstellar finesse.

    Join us as Deb takes us on a thrilling voyage shedding light on the Gateway Program — humanity's next leap toward lunar exploration and beyond. She'll delve into the intricate dance of systems integration, the challenges of leading a team of rocket scientists, and the technological marvels that make it all possible. Plus, she will get a personal glimpse into the journey that propelled her from an engineering student to a leading voice in space systems engineering.

    Whether you're a seasoned astronaut or just a dreamer with your eyes on the stars, Deb's insights and experiences are bound to ignite your passion for the final frontier. So mark your calendars and join us this Saturday at SpaceGeekSpeak. Let's reach for the stars together!

    Join the AIAA Houston section at SpaceGeekSpeak virtually over ZOOM:

    Date: Saturday, 3/16/2024.

    Time: 8:30 am central time

    Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83558603375

    Don't miss this opportunity to hear from one of NASA’s finest as she explores the challenges, innovations, and adventures of space exploration. It’s not just rocket science — it’s our future. See you there!

    Svetlana

    PS: Check out our recorded sessions on SpaceGeekSpeak Channel on YouTube, the link:   https://www.youtube.com/@spacegeekspeak

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