Research done at Purdue University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggests collisions of planetary embryos--the seeds to the planets in our solar system that existed 4 billion years ago--could be the origin of the material that formed asteroids. Dr. Jay Melosh and Dr. David Minton, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics professors by courtesy, say the next step in the research may be to explore how this chondrule formation mechanism fits into a new model for the early stages of planet formation.

The multistate Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation includes the Indiana-based Design, Modeling and Simulation Enabling Technology Center at Purdue University. Team leaders at Purdue includes School of Aeronautics and Astronautics professors Wenbin Yu, associate professor; R. Byron Pipes, engineering professor who is leading Purdue's research; Johnathan Goodsell, visiting assistant professor; and Ronald Steuterman, the center's managing director.

Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics alumnus Mark Brave (BSAAE'73) received the National Space Club Florida Committee 2014 Hall of Fame Award for his significant contributions in Human Space Flight at a ceremony at the Radisson Hotel in Cape Canaveral, Florida on November 12, 2014.

The Purdue University Board of Trustees approved School of Aeronautics and Astronautics Dr. Weinong Wayne Chen as the Reilly Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics and Materials Engineering on Saturday, December 20, 2014.

School of Aeronautics and Astronautics graduate student Michael Bedard has been named recipient of the Bravo Award for his work as a propulsion engineer at the Maurice J. Zucrow Laboratories.

Dr. Robert Lucht, the Ralph and Bettye Bailey Professor of Combustion in ME and Professor of Propulsion in the School of AAE (by courtesy), was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA).

As part of his continued collaboration with Professor James M. Longuski, Apollo astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin visited the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics on October 30-31, 2014. The School was honored to have Dr. Aldrin visit and hold discussions with Dr. Longuski's graduate student research group, Advanced Astrodynamics Concepts.

A group of students has developed a 3D printer for hybrid grains as part of the spring 2014 AAE 535 Propulsion Design, Build, Test course. The course, taught by Dr. Timothee Pourpoint, associate professor in AAE, is intended to provide students with information on the design requirements, standard methods, and tools to develop propulsion systems.

Items representing Purdue University's contributions to flight and space history flew onboard last week's first test of Orion from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station's Space Launch Complex. Purdue is the alma mater of 23 NASA astronauts. Items included a photo of Neil Armstrong (BSAAE'55, DEA'67, HDR'70, OAE'99) and Eugene Cernan (BSEE'56, HDR'70, OECE'92).