Selected Papers from the 1st International Online Conference on Aerospace

Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to announce the Special Issue “Selected Papers from the 1st International Online Conference on Aerospace” (IOCAE 2026). This conference has been organized by the MDPI open access journal Aerospace (ISSN 2226-4310, Impact Factor 2.2) and will be held virtually on 16–17 April 2026. Following the review of submitted manuscripts based on the abstracts of the conference, selected outstanding papers will be published in this Special Issue.

IOCAE 2026 provides an interactive and inclusive platform for presenting innovative research, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, and exploring emerging applications across the aerospace sector. It aims to bring together leading experts, researchers, and industry professionals to share the latest advances in aerospace science and technology. The themes of the conference include the following:

S1: Next-Gen Aircraft Design & Optimization

• Aircraft Design and Optimization–Covering efficiency, lightweight materials, and sustainability.
• Aerostructures: Materials & Structures–Focusing on composites, smart materials, and additive manufacturing.
• Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics–With trends like urban air mobility (UAM), hypersonics, and drag reduction.

S2: Sustainable Propulsion & Energy Systems

• Fuels & Energy Storage–SAFs, hydrogen propulsion, and hybrid-electric storage.
• Propulsion Technologies–Gas turbines, electric propulsion, and next-gen space propulsion.

S3: Space Systems & Exploration

• Spacecraft Design and Systems Engineering–Modularity, reusability, and miniaturization (CubeSats, SmallSats).
• Space Exploration & Mission Design–Human and robotic missions, ISRU, and long-duration sustainability.
• Space Environment and Space Debris Mitigation–Active debris removal and sustainable satellite design.

S4: Digitalization, Autonomy & Airspace Management

• Avionics and Autonomous Systems–AI-driven flight control, drone swarms, and autonomy in space.
• Air Traffic Management & Airports–AI-based ATC, UAM airspace integration, and sustainable airport infrastructure.

By hosting this conference online, we aim to break down geographical barriers and create a dynamic, global space for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and community building. We are particularly committed to encouraging the active involvement of early career researchers and young scientists as they engage with the forefront of aerospace innovation.

I warmly welcome your participation in this exciting event as we work together to shape the future of aerospace research and development.

Prof. Dr. Konstantinos Kontis
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Aerospace is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.