Keynote speaker Dr. Moriba Jah at the AIAA Rocky Mountain Section Annual Technical Symposium at UCCS 
Students present their research at the AIAA student research poster session 
Kinzy Pearson, a UCCS student & the student volunteer coordinator, presenting her research poster 
Student Vijay Banerjee speaking about his graduate research during the AIAA student research poster session 
Symposium attendees speak to students about their research at the AIAA student research poster session
UCCS and the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Rocky Mountain Section (RMS) hosted “The Sky Is Not the Limit” Technical Symposium on September 12-13, 2024. The symposium was not just a gathering, it was a launchpad for groundbreaking ideas that will shape the future of aerospace. With presentations from industry leaders and innovative companies, 250 attendees walked away armed with insights to fuel the next era of space innovation.
The first day featured a series of professional development sessions with industry veterans teaching short courses on model-based systems engineering, small team leadership for engineers, and project management-space mission planning. The day ended with a sponsorship appreciation dinner at the Space Foundation Discovery Center in Colorado Springs. Recognized sponsors included UCCS College of Engineering and Applied Science (EAS), Dassault Systems, Lockheed Martin, Astroscale, Kayhan Space, Advanced Space, BAE Systems, Ursa Major, United Launch Alliance, Think Orbital, Capella Space, Agile Space Industries and PADT. Recognized partner organizations were the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, Colorado Springs Business Roundtable (CSBR) and Colorado Council of Black Nurses.
AIAA RMS President Kristi Farley launched the second day with a dynamic welcome, followed by highlights from UCCS EAS Associate Dean Mike Corl, UCCS AIAA Faculty Advisor Lynnane George and AIAA Student Club President Jeremy Lee of transformative work happening at AIAA and UCCS. Two critical areas shaping the future of space operations, space domain awareness and space cybersecurity, were presented in separate deep-dive panel sessions. The “The Sky is No Limit” keynote panel was moderated by Debra Wilcox, President of the Colorado Space Business Roundtable (CSBR). Industry experts Jason Roberson of Dassault Systèmes, Rob Chambers of Lockheed Martin, and Michele Gaudreault, Ph.D., from US Space Force/Space Operations Command, shared game-changing insights into the future of aerospace. Following were four immersive technical tracks in space exploration and technology, advanced propulsion systems, emerging technologies and advanced aerospace technologies.
Marshall Lee of the AIAA Rocky Mountain Section headed up the conference effort, and Kinzy Pearson led a team of other UCCS AIAA club students to participate in planning, organizing and volunteering during this professional event. In addition to assisting with every aspect of the conference and attending sessions, students had unique events just for their participation. During the “Meet the Employers” event, students engaged with industry professionals and employers to learn more about aerospace careers.
“One of the highlights for me was being able to gather more detailed information from these companies regarding their application processes and the various opportunities available for students,” said Nicole Beitle, a UCCS student. “Many representatives provided helpful insights into internships, co-ops, and entry-level positions, which was incredibly valuable as I look ahead to career planning.”
A judged poster session representing undergraduate and graduate student research was held for students to discuss their research with conference attendees. Students from UCCS, the U.S. Air Force Academy and CSU Fort Collins presented research posters.
Moriba Jah, Ph.D, an internationally recognized astrodynamicist and MacArthur Fellow acknowledged for his work in space environmentalism, closed the symposium with an impassioned presentation about a sustainable near-Earth space environment. With his extensive expertise in space situational awareness and astrodynamics, Jah has dedicated his career to addressing the environmental challenges posed by human activities beyond Earth.
“Hearing the keynote speaker, Moriba Jah, at the UCCS AIAA symposium was inspiring,” Joseph Bate, a UCCS physics student, said. “His call for global inclusivity in space decisions really struck a chord with me. It made me realize that different cultures’ spiritual relationships with the stars and our universe are being infringed upon without their input—space belongs to all of us, and we need to work together to protect it.”
Summing up the symposium, Steven Tragesser, Ph.D., an Associate Professor at UCCS, noted “This was a fantastic meeting of industry, military, and academia. Participants shared unique insights into the state-of-the-art of space programs and operations. I learned some things that would be hard to find in any other resource.”
The UCCS Mechanical and Aerospace Department added the minor in Aerospace Engineering in 2000, Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering in 2022, and Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering in 2024.
About the UCCS College of Engineering and Applied Science
The College of Engineering and Applied Science enrolls more than 1,700 students and offers 24 engineering and computer science degrees, ranging from bachelor to doctoral. The college is a Department of Homeland Security / National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense and works closely with the National Cybersecurity Center and with more than 250 aerospace and defense, information technology, cybersecurity and engineering organizations in the Pikes Peak region. Learn more about the College of Engineering and Applied Science at UCCS.