Symposium Highlights of Aerospace Manufacturing Innovation

Image from The Hindu

What Happened

The symposium, ASTRA 2025, was conducted at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) in Thiruvananthapuram from June 12–14, 2025. It focused on aerospace manufacturing, propulsion, structures, and materials.

More than 250 participants from academia, industry, and government beams came together to share recent research in such areas as aerodynamics, thermal systems, materials manufacturing, and industrial engineering. The event highlighted the convergence of mechanical design, material selection, and manufacturing processes in aerospace applications.

Why It Matters for Aerospace Mechanical Applications

Advanced manufacturing and materials technologies play key roles in mechanical systems in aircraft and spacecraft, including actuators, linkages, structures, and mechanisms. The focus on manufacturing innovation in the symposium will make such aerospace mechanisms even lighter, stronger, and more efficient. Sharing these new insights in manufacturing accelerates adoption of next-gen mechanical components in aerospace.

Key Takeaways for Engineers

First, there is a need for a cross-discipline dialogue between material scientists, manufacturing engineers, and aerospace designers for further advancements in aerospace systems. Secondly, manufacturing methods such as additive manufacturing, composite lay-up, and advanced joining are becoming central to mechanism design. The symposium emphasized that future aerospace mechanisms would depend as much on manufacturing innovation as on traditional mechanical design skills.