Research

Every day the future is being expanded in our labs. From the development of advanced unoccupied aerial vehicles to new aerodynamic techniques and unconventional space propulsion concepts, the faculty and students of UW Aero & Astro are honing the cutting edge of tomorrow's technologies.

Illustration of the spacecraft containing NASA’s Perseverance rover slows down using the drag generated by its motion in the Martian atmosphere.

Space Systems

Space Systems addresses key challenges to achieve off-planet activities that require vast increases in current technology to operate long-term in space and support biological life.

Structures & Composites

Structures research specializes in developing aerospace structures that are strong, lightweight and robust.

Two researchers putting together an aerial vehicle outdoors

Controls

Controls deals with position, direction, safety and communication aspects of a single vehicle or swarm of vehicles in motion through air, water or space.

Man in a wind tunnel lab, sitting in front of a computer observing data

Integrated Flight Sciences and Control

Integrated Flight Sciences and Control researches composite materials, flexible structures, load alleviation, hypersonics and more.

Plasma Science

Plasma science focuses on achieving a stable fusion reaction that might one day be a sustainable source for clean energy and deep space propulsion.

Fluids

Fluids research focuses on the fundamentals of turbulence, as well as applications in aerodynamics, propulsion and energy.

If you are interested in connecting with faculty or sponsoring a research project, please contact A&A's External Relations to set up a department visit.