UCCS students continue to build momentum in space-based student research, with two ISS experiments selected for flight - one launching in 2026 and another scheduled for 2027. Together, these missions highlight UCCS’s growing role in interdisciplinary, hands-on space science spanning biology, chemistry, and aerospace engineering. UCCS Springs Discussing ISS Experiment for Flight on Mission 21 in May 2026 This year’s experiment, manifested for flight to the International Space

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) BatSat 2.0 experiment has been provisionally accepted for flight on the 2026 High Altitude Student Platform (HASP), marking an exciting milestone for the 7-person student-led research team. HASP provides a unique near-space research environment using a high-altitude balloon platform, allowing student teams to fly scientific payloads to altitudes exceeding 35 km, well above most of Earth’s atmosphere and into a radiation envir

In June 2025, a team UCCS engineering students achieved liftoff, not just for their experimental payload, but for a bold new idea in space sustainability: edible insects as future space food. The student team, Sound of Crickets , launched live Acheta domesticus  (house cricket) eggs aboard a NASA sounding rocket through NASA’s RockSat-C program. Their experiment investigated whether cricket eggs could survive the intense vibration, acceleration, temperature changes, and the f

Between late-night lab reports, group projects, and notifications that never seem to stop, college can feel like…a lot. That’s why the AIAA Student Chapter at UCCS has recruited a very special member to the team: Oban the Therapy Dog. Oban the Therapy Dog Every other Monday from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Oban sets up “office hours” in the UCCS Anschutz Engineering Center, ready to accept payment in the form of pets and ear scratches. Students swing by between classes to decom

The UCCS AIAA Student Club embarked on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Lockheed Martin’s (LM) Waterton Plant on October 16, 2025. This world-class facility—headquarters of Lockheed Martin Space—is a cornerstone of aerospace innovation, where cutting-edge systems for national security, civil, and commercial missions are designed, developed, and launched toward the stars. Twenty-five UCCS students, accompanied by Dr. Lynnane George, the AIAA student chapter faculty advis

AIAA has always been dedicated to shaping the future of aerospace — and our future includes you. As aeronautics and astronautics professionals, students, and STEM educators, we are the drivers of global innovation. AIAA is committed to providing the resources, connections, and experiences that empower your personal and professional growth. Together, we make the world a safer, more accessible, and more prosperous place. Our members enjoy unparalleled opportunities to grow as l