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.](/files/research/spacelandings%20500.jpeg)
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.
![Man next to a prototype in a lab](/files/research/controls/IMG_0470.jpg)
Structures & Composites
Structures research specializes in developing aerospace structures that are strong, lightweight and robust.
![Two researchers putting together an aerial vehicle outdoors](/sites/aa/files/research/HideandSeekcropped2.jpg)
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](/files/images/homepage%20blocks/AA-Integrated-Flight-Sciences-%20Control.png)
Integrated Flight Sciences and Control
Integrated Flight Sciences and Control researches composite materials, flexible structures, load alleviation, hypersonics and more.
![Machines in a lab](/files/research/z-pinch-500px.jpg)
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.
![Two researchers conducting fluids research on the aerospace thermal lab](/files/research/AbigaleFlume.jpg)
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.