Aeronautical and astronautical engineering

Helping space shuttles achieve liftoffMIT has contributed 27 alumni-astronauts, plenty of earthbound expertise.

Safer skiesA new algorithm could help prevent midair collisions, which involve 10 to 12 small aircraft every year.

Moving inventions to the marketplaceMIT/Harvard symposium seeks commercial opportunities for emerging technologies.

Peraire named head of the Department of Aeronautics and AstronauticsComputational aerodynamics specialist succeeds Ian Waitz, who was named dean of engineering

Greetings from spaceAstronaut alumni wish MIT a happy 150th from 200 miles above.

Ian Waitz on the future of engineering education and researchNew dean reflects on MIT’s School of Engineering, cites ever-growing role for collaboration and outreach.

It’s not easy flying greenA new analysis emphasizes the large variability in greenhouse gas emissions from alternative fuels.

Exploring explorationFrom deep space to deep sea, two-day symposium examined MIT’s impacts and innovations.

3 Questions: Jeffrey Hoffman on the Space Shuttle at 30Anniversary of the first shuttle flight comes just as it nears retirement, but the vehicle has changed space travel dramatically.

Catching cancer with carbon nanotubesNew device to test blood can spot cancer cells, HIV on the fly

Alum-astronaut Robert Satcher: ‘We need to get everybody on board’Delivers keynote address at the annual Laureates and Leaders induction ceremony

Three MIT engineers named to the National Academy of EngineeringSeveral alumni also elected among 68 new members announced today

Ian A. Waitz named dean of MIT's School of EngineeringSixteenth dean succeeds Subra Suresh

Video: Remembering astronaut, alum Ron McNairOn 25th anniversary of the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster, AeroAstro professor Jeffrey Hoffman remembers his colleague.

Crawley wins National Academy of Engineering’s Gordon Prize$500,000 award recognizes his profound contributions to worldwide engineering education.

Frost-free planes: back to the drawing boardResearch from MIT and GE demonstrates that a proposed passive solution for preventing ice on wings won’t work — but suggests an alternative.

Student design takes flightMIT students build an unmanned aircraft for MIT Lincoln Laboratory research

Building a list of Earth candidatesMIT researchers increase their odds of detecting an Earthlike planet by working on a combination of satellite missions.

An Engineering CareerKent Kresa, former Northrop Grumman CEO and General Motors board chair, returns to MIT

Heading off traumaStudy suggests adding a face shield to military helmets would help more soldiers avoid blast-induced brain injuries.

3 Questions: John Hansman on the Qantas A380 engine blowoutMIT aviation expert discusses why the engine failure could have resulted in a more serious outcome.

A greener way to grow carbon nanotubesStudy suggests new way for manufacturers to minimize environmental impact of carbon nanotube production

Aerospace engineer Joseph Gavin ‘41, SM ‘42 dies at 90Former president of Grumman Aircraft led Lunar Module development for NASA, aided in the rescue of Apollo 13

Lending a handMIT researchers may be closer to understanding why spacesuit gloves hurt astronauts’ hands.

‘Express lanes’ for ionsBy aligning carbon nanotubes in electrodes, researchers boost performance.

MIT-led team’s eco-aircraft receives Popular Mechanics Breakthrough Innovator AwardUnique plane offers significant reduction in emissions, noise and fuel use.

A link between air travel and deaths on the groundStudy suggests pollution from airplanes flying at ‘cruise’ altitudes contributes to 8,000 deaths per year globally.

Robert J. Butler, former design research engineer at MIT, dies at 89An MIT engineer for 25 years, he helped design instruments for NASA’s Voyager spacecraft.