Student Organizations
AAS - American Astronautical Society
The purpose of the American Astronautical Society KU Student Chapter is to inform the space community, including the public, about those facts and theories which will further advance the astronautical sciences and space technology, guide the nation's astronautical programs toward achievements in space exploration and utilization, and nurture and inspire the next generation of scientists, engineers, technicians, and amateurs in the field of astronautics.
AIAA - American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics
The aerospace professional society on campus is the AIAA. There is an active student branch at the University of Kansas, which organizes technical and social meetings throughout the academic year. It is highly recommended that aerospace students become active in AIAA for status in the profession, career development and career motivation. For more information and application forms, check in the Department Office, 2120 Learned Hall.
ESC - Engineering Student Council
The student government body for engineering students. ESC works directly with the dean of engineering and department heads on behalf of the students. The Council also sponsors a variety of activities each year. ESC organizes the annual Engineering Exposition, held during National Engineers Week in late February. Expo is an opportunity for student groups to plan and create engineering projects for exhibition.
XBS - Experimental Balloon Society
XBS is an organization that gives students the opportunity to make high altitude balloon payloads and to participate in the launch and recovery of those payloads. These balloons can carry payloads of up to 12 lbs to altitudes around 110,000 feet. This allows low-cost testing of payloads at 1/3 the way into the internationally distance to space (100km). The club shows students the full lifecycle of a project, from the design phase, to building, then actually flying the project. Current Projects include: Rocket launch at high altitude, video acquisition, telemetry transmission and communications.
KUSP - KU Space Program
In the 1990's, KUSP participated in NASA's Get Away Special (GAS) Program, which allows placement of experiments onboard space shuttle flights. The organization is open to all majors, but is currently inactive.
MGT - Microgravity Team
The KU Microgravity Team is to help organize students into groups to work on projects and to assist in the application process for the Reduced Gravity program at NASA. The Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunities Program provides a unique academic experience for undergraduate students to successfully propose, design, fabricate, fly and evaluate a reduced gravity experiment of their choice at the NASA Johnson Space Center.
RSDO - Rocket System Development Organization
RSDO is an organization open to students interested in the "space" aspect of aerospace. Members put theory into practice by designing, constructing and testing hardware and systems that will ultimately be used to build a flight-capable rocket. Projects include: hybrid rocket motors, gas/liquid propellant rocket motors, engine test stands, computer programs for propulsion system performance analysis, high pressure fuel tank testing and fuselage structure design.
SAE - Society of Automotive Engineers
The Society of Automotive Engineers is oriented to all engineers who are active in the automotive field. It is particularly active in the areas of general aviation and commercial air transport.
Sigma Gamma Tau
This is an aerospace engineering national honor society in which membership is by invitation only. Students with exceptional scholastic performance are eligible for membership and will be invited by the campus chapter. Technical and social meetings are held throughout the academic year.
SWE - Society of Women Engineers
The Society of Women Engineers is a national, professional, educational organization of graduate engineers, and men and women with equivalent engineering experience, dedicated to the advancement of women in the engineering profession. There is an active student chapter of SWE on campus open to all engineering students and faculty who are interested in the goals of the organization.
Tau Beta Pi
This is an all-engineering national honor society in which membership is by invitation only. Students with exceptional scholastic performance are eligible for membership and will be invited by the campus chapter.
