McNAIR Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research

Yesterday we gathered in Columbia, SC for another very successful South Carolina Council on Competitiveness event! During “State of SC Aerospace & SC Logistics” we discussed - Aerospace Economic Impact Data, What is Growing in SC?, and workforce insights. It was a great time learning new things, visiting new operations, and making new connections! Thank you to our speakers for sharing your insights Jeff Ruble, Nina Staggers, Megan Graham, Art Welling, Omar Samra, Sonya Morris Thank you Nephron Pharmaceuticals - Tyler Barboza, Peter Ryckebosch, CSCP Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) & McNAIR Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research for hosting tours! And thank you for the support from our sponsors ARCO Design/Build Roberto Haley, Tradd Advisory Company Stephen Scates. I enjoyed talking to so many of you who attended. Wishing everyone is the SC Logistics ecosystem a success end to their 2024. Looking forward to gathering again in 2025!!

It was a blast to participate in the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness State of Logistics and Aerospace for 2024 Event! Thank you to all who participated in the McNAIR Center Tour! We had a full tour group with some truly impressive questions and conversations. If you missed your first choice for tours we would be happy to host you in one of our future events!

What an incredible facility! The South Carolina Technology and Aviation Center is a staple for the aviation economy in the state and across the USA. We were honored spend an afternoon with its director, driving around the SCTAC perimeter and chatting all things SC Aerospace. Until next time! Joshua Widawsky Bree Bess, MPA Emily Savage

This #VeteransDay, we honor the courage and sacrifice of our Gamecock veterans and all who have served our nation. ????

Had a great time representing the McNAIR Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research at the SC Manufacturing Conference and Expo in Greenville, SC, Nov 7-8. Countless productive conversations and connections made across the manufacturing industry! Thorsten Wuest and Wout De Backer shared hard earned wisdom from their experience in Automation, AI, and bridging the gap between industry and university education. Big thanks to Joshua Widawsky , Bree Bess, MPA , and Emily Savage for manning the booth and starting meaningful conversations. Reach out if you’d like to see the McNAIR facility in person!

Honored to have hosted this incredible crowd for a few hours!

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?? Last weekend, University of South Carolina attended the 4th Annual SmallSat Education, Inc. conference at Cape Canaveral, Florida, for the second time, with a group of motived students from our USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing USC AIAA and Rocketry Club! This conference has expanded significantly, growing from 300 to 550 attendees in the past year alone, a testament to the growing momentum and interest in small satellite technology, and echoed the success of the renowned SmallSat Conference in Utah. It’s exciting to see this enthusiasm in the space community! This year, we engaged with industry and government professionals and had the unique opportunity to witness a Falcon 9 rocket launch - an unforgettable experience (pictured). My goal: To connect and help build a robust space network here in South Carolina and expand our space-focused research at the McNAIR Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research by launching our own CubeSat(s?). We’re grateful to the organizers for this inspiring event, to our college for the funding for our students to attend, and I'm excited to see our students take what they learned and apply it in new ways back at USC. #SmallSatEducation #CapeCanaveral #Falcon9 #SpaceResearch #AIAA #Rocketry #USC #SpaceInnovation #STEM

?? Last weekend, University of South Carolina attended the 4th Annual SmallSat Education, Inc. conference at Cape Canaveral, Florida, for the second time, with a group of motived students from our USC Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing USC AIAA and Rocketry Club! This conference has expanded significantly, growing from 300 to 550 attendees in the past year alone, a testament to the growing momentum and interest in small satellite technology, and echoed the success of the renowned SmallSat Conference in Utah. It’s exciting to see this enthusiasm in the space community! This year, we engaged with industry and government professionals and had the unique opportunity to witness a Falcon 9 rocket launch - an unforgettable experience (pictured). My goal: To connect and help build a robust space network here in South Carolina and expand our space-focused research at the McNAIR Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research by launching our own CubeSat(s?). We’re grateful to the organizers for this inspiring event, to our college for the funding for our students to attend, and I'm excited to see our students take what they learned and apply it in new ways back at USC. #SmallSatEducation #CapeCanaveral #Falcon9 #SpaceResearch #AIAA #Rocketry #USC #SpaceInnovation #STEM

Students from Mechanical Engineering Assistant Professor Andrew Gross's finite element course visited Midlands Technical College (MTC) this morning as part of a collaboration between both institutions. Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing students in Gross's class will work in groups on a design challenge. They will be paired with a student from MTC's machine tool technology program, who will provide feedback on the manufacturability of their solution. MTC students will visit Gross's lab in November when mechanical testing on the components is conducted.