Special Issues

Aerospace publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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Combustion of Solid Propellants
edited by
submission deadline 15 May 2026 | 8 articles | Viewed by 15844 | Submission Open
Keywords: propellant combustion; combustion adjustment; combustion modeling; high-pressure combustion
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Space Robotics and Embodied Intelligence: Advancing Autonomous Exploration
edited by Deshan Meng, and Linqi Ye
submission deadline 25 May 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 15990 | Submission Open
Keywords: space robotics; space manipulators; embodied intelligence; innovative design; trajectory optimization; perception and manipulation; intelligent control; human– robot interaction; on-orbit servicing; autonomous exploration
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
Formation Flight of Fixed-Wing Aircraft submission deadline 30 May 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 7848 | Submission Open
Keywords: formation flight; fixed-wing UAV; swarm; drones; unmanned aerial vehicle; guidance; obstacle avoidance; obstacle detection; dynamics; trajectory computation; path planning; simulation; experimental; testing; campaign; fixed-wing aircraft; multi-UAV; multi-aircraft; cooperative; coordination; flocking; multi-agent; distributed sensor; observer; formation flight mission; mission planning; performance; collective conscience; cellular; leader-follower; leader; wingman; formation optimization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Spacecraft Orbit Transfers (2nd Edition)
edited by
submission deadline 31 May 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 3752 | Submission Open
Keywords: orbit transfers; space propulsion; space trajectory; trajectory optimization; guidance; navigation; and control; interplanetary missions
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
Flight Performance and Planning for Sustainable Aviation
edited by
submission deadline 31 May 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2853 | Submission Open
Keywords: sustainable aviation; flight performance optimization; contrails and climate impact; alternative fuels; greenhouse gas emissions; aviation environmental impact; sustainable propulsion systems; aviation decarbonization; flight path optimization; climate-friendly aviation; life cycle assessment (lca) in aviation; operational efficiency in aviation; aviation emission mitigation; sustainable aviation fuels (safs); electric and hybrid aircraft; hydrogen-powered aviation; climate-conscious flight planning; net-zero aviation; aviation policy and sustainability; impact of contrail avoidance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Air Traffic and Transportation)
Challenges and Recent Advances in Model-Based Engineering for Aerospace submission deadline 31 May 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2798 | Submission Open
Keywords: model-based engineering (MBE); model-based system engineering (MBSE); aerospace; knowledge-based engineering (KBE); digital twin (DT); ontology; semantics
High Speed Aircraft and Engine Design
edited by and
submission deadline 31 May 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2559 | Submission Open
Keywords: high-speed aerodynamics; propulsion systems; high-speed flight
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Heat and Mass Transfer in Rocket Propulsion submission deadline 31 May 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 924 | Submission Open
Keywords: combustion chambers and nozzles; cooling channels and cryogenic handling; solid and hybrid propellants; monopropellants; electric propulsion systems
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
Heritage and Innovation: Solid Propellants Throughout a Century of Rocket Development
edited by
submission deadline 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 423 | Submission Open
Keywords: solid rocket motor; solid propellant; energetic materials; grain design; combustion instability; structural integrity; numerical simulation; measurement and test; combustion diagnostics; multiphase flow combustion; combustion mechanism; additive manufacturing
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
Advanced Spacecraft/Satellite Technologies (2nd Edition)
edited by
submission deadline 5 Jun 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 913 | Submission Open
Keywords: radiation protection; thermal management; guidance; navigation and control; space power and propulsion; space structure; communication; life support; on-orbit servicing; assembly; and manufacturing; artificial intelligence
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
Deicing and Anti-Icing of Aircraft (Volume IV)
edited by and Xiaobin Shen
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 8 articles | Viewed by 14122 | Submission Open
Keywords: deicing; anti-icing; ice accretion; ice adhesion; ice cohesion
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Design, Characterization and Operations of Lighter-than-Air Flying Vehicles submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 8 articles | Viewed by 11752 | Submission Open
Keywords: lighter than air; airship; design; UAV; unmanned; sizing; hydrogen; helium; energy harvesting; mission design; MDAO; dynamic modeling; buoyancy; characterization; wind tunnel; testing; simulation; control; guidance; stabilization; electronics; actuators; motors; docking; maneuvers; ground infrastructure; land infrastructure; airship operations; operation research; operation cost; cost of manufacture; production cost; profitability; cost model; air transport economics; air transport system; airspace; case study; experimental campaigns
Structural Dynamics Modelling, Aeroelastic Analysis and Experimental Verification Methods for Aircraft Systems
edited by Weizhe Feng, and
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 10374 | Submission Open
Keywords: structural dynamic modeling; structural dynamic optimization; aeroelastic stability; aeroservoelastic stability; computational aeroelasticity; ground vibration test; wind tunnel test; data-driven virtual test techniques
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
New Perspective on Flight Guidance, Control and Dynamics
edited by and Bangcheng Ai
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 6 articles | Viewed by 9230 | Submission Open
Keywords: flight modeling and simulation; flight guidance and control; artificial intelligence and optimization; information fusion and processing
Fatigue Damage and Fracture Analysis of Aerospace Metal Materials
edited by
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 8369 | Submission Open
Keywords: aerospace materials; fatigue damage; crack propagation; environmental effects; microstructural analysis; fatigue life prediction; non-destructive testing; computational modeling; advanced material design
Situational Awareness Using Space-Based Sensor Networks
edited by Zengfu Wang and
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 6485 | Submission Open
Keywords: space-based sensor networks; multi-source heterogeneous information fusion; target tracking; sensor resource management; distributed fusion; task planning; earth observation; space surveillance; satellite constellations
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
Aircraft Conceptual Design: Tools, Processes and Examples
edited by
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 6318 | Submission Open
Keywords: aircraft design; design engineering; systems engineering; conceptual design; certification; aerodynamics; propulsion; structures; mass properties; operations research
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Recent Advances in Icing Studies and Energy-Efficient De-Icing/Anti-Icing Technologies
edited by , Wenqiang Zhang, Dongyu Zhu and Ningli Chen
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 3656 | Submission Open
Keywords: icing; de-icing; anti-icing; SLD; ice crystal; icing physics; icing thermodynamics; phase change; heat/mass transfer; icing wind tunnel; icing detection; CFD
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Composite Materials and Aircraft Structural Design
edited by Morteza Abouhamzeh
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3609 | Submission Open
Keywords: aircraft design; aviation/aeronautical; composite; hybrid; biomaterials; optimization; novel aircraft structures; functional composites; modeling; optimizations
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Aircraft Electric Power System II: Motor Drive Design and Control
edited by , , Hengliang Zhang, and
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1731 | Submission Open
Keywords: aircraft electrification; electric propulsion systems; electrical machine; motor drive; wide-bandgap semiconductors; high-power-density machines; fault-tolerant design; artificial intelligence; intelligent motor control; drive system integration
Overall Aircraft Design for New Airframe Technologies, New Energy Systems, and New Operations—2nd Edition
edited by Yaolong Liu
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1299 | Submission Open
Keywords: overall aircraft design; aircraft technology integration; EVTOL; MDAO (multidisciplinary design analysis and optimization); MBSE (model-based systems engineering); hybrid electric propulsion; laminar flow control; formation flight; trajectory optimization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Aerodynamic Analysis of a High-Speed Aircraft: From Hypersonic Down to Subsonic Speeds submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1064 | Submission Open
Keywords: high-speed flow; supersonic flow; hypersonic flow; aerodynamics; aerothermodynamics; scramjet propulsion; computational fluid dynamics; MDO
Breakthrough Propulsion for Spacecraft
edited by and
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 919 | Submission Open
Keywords: breakthrough propulsion; interstellar travel; advanced in-space propulsion; warp drive; vacuum forces
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
Aerodynamic Numerical Optimization in UAV Design (2nd Edition)
edited by Aleksandar M. Simonović
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 458 | Submission Open
Keywords: unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); aerodynamic design optimization; aerodynamic shape optimization; optimization design; multi-objective optimization (MDO); airfoil; wing; propeller; computational fluid dynamics (CFD); aerodynamic configuration
Innovations in Rotorcraft Flight Dynamics and Control
edited by Jonnalagadda V R Prasad, Ilkay Yavrucuk and
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 389 | Submission Open
Keywords: physics-based simulation models; flight dynamic modeling of multi-rotor vehicles; fly-by-wire; intelligent flight control; urban air mobility; eVTOL; active rotor control; system identification; AI and machine learning; autonomous control
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Hybrid Rocket Propulsion System
edited by Jongshinn Wu and
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 348 | Submission Open
Keywords: hybrid rocket propulsion; combustion instability; fuel regression rate; additive manufacturing; green propellants; in-space propulsion; numerical modeling; throttling control; thrust vector control; propulsion education
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
Dynamic Simulation of Electric Rocket Engine Propulsion
edited by Nanjia Yu
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 288 | Submission Open
Keywords: dynamic simulation; electrically driven pump-fed engine; turbopump; multi-physics modeling; transient analysis; liquid rocket engine; control system design; system integration
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
Modern Small Spacecraft Design
edited by Jesus D. Gonzalez-Llorente and
submission deadline 30 Jun 2026 | Viewed by 279 | Submission Open
Keywords: CubeSats and nanosatellites; small spacecraft; very low Earth orbit (VLEO) satellites; moon and space exploration; space systems engineering; spacecraft subsystem design; electrical power systems (eps); propulsion systems; thermal control and thermal management; space communications and rf systems; communication and cyber security; modular and scalable architectures; satellite internet of things (IoT); satellite constellations and swarms; onboard autonomy; artificial intelligence (AI) in space; machine learning (ML) for space systems; sustainable space missions; FDIR mechanism; fault tolerant architecture; space debris mitigation and end-of-life strategies; in-orbit demonstration and technology validation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
Advances in UAVs: Design Methods, Performance Enhancement Techniques and Technologies submission deadline 15 Jul 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 7204 | Submission Open
Keywords: UAVs; design and synthesis; innovative layouts; aerodynamics; optimization; flow control; alternative energy sources; solar energy; flight planning; structures; materials; airworthiness
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Guidance, Navigation and Control Algorithms for Satellite Formation Flying (2nd Edition)
edited by Gabriella Gaias and Jean-Sébastien Ardaens
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 2835 | Submission Open
Keywords: relative navigation; relative orbit determination; spacecraft rendezvous; satellite formation flying; formation reconfiguration; active debris removal; autonomy; swarms; distributed space systems
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
AI-Driven Innovations in Air Traffic Management and Aviation Safety
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 2109 | Submission Open
Keywords: machine learning; artificial intelligence; generative AI; air traffic management; aviation safety; responsible AI; deep learning; decision support systems
(This special issue belongs to the Section Air Traffic and Transportation)
Structural Strength, Life Reliability and Design Optimization of Aircraft Engines
edited by Xi Liu and Cheng Yan
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 1622 | Submission Open
Keywords: lifetime prediction; structural design; uncertainty quantification; reliability evaluation; reliability design; optimization algorithm; topology optimization; multi-disciplinary design optimization; surrogate model; correlation analysis
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Aircraft Structural Design Materials, Modeling, and Optimization
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 1384 | Submission Open
Keywords: aircraft structures; structural design and optimization; multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO); composite and advanced materials; additive manufacturing; multiscale and multiphysics modeling; aeroelasticity and structural dynamics; topology; shape; and size optimization; digital twin and structural health monitoring; AI-enabled structural design
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Conceptual Design and Multidisciplinary Optimization of Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) Aircraft
edited by Yu Hu and Xiaoping Xu
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 429 | Submission Open
Keywords: eVTOL conceptual design; multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO); distributed electric propulsion (DEP); battery sizing and electrical energy system integration; rotorcraft aerodynamics; design for noise abatement
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Intelligent Control and Stability Management of Aerospace Propulsion Systems submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 389 | Submission Open
Keywords: intelligent control; reliability; stability management; aerospace propulsion; rockets
Resilient and Intelligent Autonomous Flight: Dynamics, Guidance, and Control Systems
edited by and Hassan Haghighi
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 165 | Submission Open
Keywords: resilient autonomous flight; intelligent flight systems; flight dynamics and modeling; guidance; navigation; and control (GNC); fault-tolerant and adaptive control; learning-based and AI-driven control; trajectory optimization; UAVs and aerial robotics; multi-agent and swarm systems; vision-based autonomy and perception; urban air mobility (UAM); safety-critical aerospace systems
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Guidance and Control of Advanced Aerospace Vehicle from Near Space to Orbit
edited by Yuliang Bai
submission deadline 31 Jul 2026 | Viewed by 161 | Submission Open
Keywords: aerospace vehicle; aeroassisted orbital transfer vehicle  ; spaceplane/reusable launch vehicle  ; advanced guidance for aerospace vehicle; nonlinear control; sliding mode control; adaptive and fault-tolerant control; cooperative guidance and control; intelligent autonomous control/learning-based control
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
Aerospace Vehicle Optimization: Design Innovations, Thermal Management, and Practical Applications
edited by Yu Xu
submission deadline 20 Aug 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2370 | Submission Open
Keywords: aerospace vehicle optimization; design methodologies; multidisciplinary optimization; thermal management; liquid cooling; two-phase flow heat transfer; phase change material; hydrogen; heat exchanger
Spacecraft Trajectory Design
edited by Mingying Huo, Gang Zhang and
submission deadline 30 Aug 2026 | 7 articles | Viewed by 23269 | Submission Open
Keywords: efficient trajectory design for deep space exploration missions; spacecraft game-based orbit design; space situation awareness; spacecraft formation trajectories; space manipulator trajectory design
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
Advanced Aerospace Structures: Materials, Mechanics, and Intelligent Design
edited by Heyuan Huang and Meiying Zhao
submission deadline 30 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 153 | Submission Open
Keywords: aerospace structures; advanced structural materials; structural mechanics; lightweight design and optimization; composite and hybrid aerospace structures; multiscale characterization and modeling; aeroelasticity and structural dynamics; additive manufacturing for aerospace structures; digital twin and intelligent structural design; structural health monitoring and reliability
Next-Generation Drones for Urban Air Mobility: Advances and Innovations submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 9263 | Submission Open
Keywords: next-generation drones; urban air mobility (UAM); innovative materials; hybrid and conventional propulsion; carbon-neutral and zero-emission fuels; AI-powered navigation; flight control systems; communication networks; safety protocols; autonomous flight
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Flow and Heat Transfer in Solid Rocket Motors
edited by Yang Liu
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 7217 | Submission Open
Keywords: solid rocket motor; complex flow and heat transfer; ablation mechanism; insulator; multiphase flow modeling; metal droplet behavior; design of combustion chamber and nozzle; combustion modeling; prediction of performance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
Advanced AI and Robotic Technologies for Spacecraft Modelling, Optimization, and Decision-Making submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 6498 | Submission Open
Keywords: space exploration; space missions; spacecraft planning; artificial intelligence
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
New Sights of Intelligent Robust Control in Aerospace
edited by , , Yuxin Liao and
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 3980 | Submission Open
Keywords: robust control; intelligent control; learning-based control; aerospace control; unmanned aerial systems
Aerospace Vehicles and Complex Fluid Flow Modelling
edited by László Könözsy
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2504 | Submission Open
Keywords: computational fluid dynamics (CFD); complex fluid-flow physics; computational engineering; computational modelling; numerical analysis; experimental techniques; aerospace vehicles; rotating aerospace vehicles; aircraft icing; aircraft landing; micro- and nano-satellites; cubesats; solid rocket propulsions
Intelligent Assembly and Measurement Technologies for Next-Generation Aero-Engines
edited by Yongmeng Liu, Yingjie Mei and
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 2163 | Submission Open
Keywords: ultra-precision measurement methods for complex engine components; high-precision intelligent assembly process of multi-stage components; online measurement and pose control; assembly process simulation and closed-loop optimization; development of flexible sensors and embedded measurement systems; non-destructive testing and deformation monitoring; application of big data and AI in assembly deviation diagnosis; key technologies for autonomous collaborative assembly of robots; in situ measurement methods in extreme environments
Emerging Trends in Air Traffic Flow and Airport Operations Control
edited by , Yan Xu and
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2149 | Submission Open
Keywords: capacity and delay prediction; dynamic airspace configuration; air traffic flow and capacity management; departure; arrival and surface management; integrated airport and airside operations control; collaborative multi-airport system operations; 4D trajectory planning and management; human-automation interactions; integration of new entrants into controlled airspace; resilient air traffic operation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Air Traffic and Transportation)
Application of Multidisciplinary Optimization and Artificial Intelligence Techniques to Aerospace Engineering (Volume III)
edited by
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1054 | Submission Open
Keywords: aerospace engineering; multidisciplinary optimization; artificial intelligence; machine learning; data science; UAVs
(This special issue belongs to the Section Aeronautics)
Space Optical Instrumentation
edited by Cyril Bourgenot, Christopher Graham and
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 677 | Submission Open
Keywords: earth observation (EO); freespace optical communications (FSOC); optics; imagers; spectrometers; freeform optics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Astronautics & Space Science)
New Sights into Rocket Guidance and Intelligent Control
edited by , Lihui Wang and Liguo Tan
submission deadline 31 Aug 2026 | Viewed by 584 | Submission Open
Keywords: intelligent aerospace systems; rocket launches and rocket reuse; formation control and coordination; fault diagnosis and health monitoring; multi-objective optimization; evolutionary computation; deep learning in aerospace; sensor fusion; fixed-time control; spacecraft autonomy; trajectory optimization; aerospace control systems; vision-based navigation; intelligent flight control; advanced signal processing; aerospace system reliability
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