The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is a professional society for the field of aerospace engineering. The AIAA is the U.S. representative on the International Astronautical Federation and the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences. In 2015, it had more than 30,000 members among aerospace professionals worldwide (a majority are American and/or live in the United States).

The AIAA was founded in 1963 from the merger of two earlier societies: the American Rocket Society (ARS), founded in 1930 as the American Interplanetary Society (AIS), and the Institute of the Aerospace Sciences (IAS), founded in 1932 as the Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences.

AIAA has earned an international reputation as the preeminent publisher of cutting-edge aerospace books and journals, and the leading source of aerospace industry archives, dating back to the early 1900s. Over the past eight decades, AIAA and its predecessor organizations have published over 300 books and almost 200,000 technical articles. AIAA’s current publications include eight technical journals, a magazine, three book series, national and international standards documents, a growing number of e-books and other electronic products, and a full-service, interactive website.

AIAA hosts many conferences and smaller events throughout the year. The largest of those is the AIAA Science and Technology Forum and Exposition (“AIAA SciTech”). Others include AIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum and Exposition (“AIAA Aviation”), AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum and Exposition (“AIAA P&E”), and AIAA Space and Astronautics Forum and Exposition (“AIAA Space”).

AIAA is the voice of the aerospace profession, giving its members an effective say in policy decisions affecting aerospace. Since 1972 AIAA has contributed technical expertise to Congress and the executive branch, providing accurate information to decision makers and highlighting the crucial role aerospace plays in economic and national security, and in our technological future.

According to en.wikipedia.org; aiaa.org. Source of photos: internet