Louis A. Cassel to receive AIAA Missile Systems Award

Reston, Va. - The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) is pleased to announce that Louis A. Cassel, senior technical advisor, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, San Bernardino, Calif., has won the 2010 AIAA Missile Systems Technical Award. Cassel will receive the award on November 16 during the plenary session of the AIAA Missiles Sciences Conference, which will be held November 16󈝾 at the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif.

Cassel is being honored for "45 years of sustained technical contributions to missile systems technologies with focus on MaRV technologies, aerodynamic and ground flight testing, navigation systems, and interceptor technology."

Cassel's accomplishments include developing and demonstrating the concept of jet interaction in hypersonic flight regimes to enable maneuvering; developing aerodynamic control configurations for ballistic missiles; demonstrating the concept of "terminal fix" onboard sensor programs for hypersonic reentry vehicles; and developing the first generation of optical sensors capable of operating in a hypersonic environment, enabling ground map matching in target areas. He also fostered the development of unique onboard navigation systems, such as the ring laser gyro, bell "ringing" gyro, and others, which enable precision missile strikes. Cassel's other research interests are wind tunnel testing and aerodynamic uncertainty modeling.

The AIAA Missile Systems Technical Award is presented for a significant accomplishment in developing or using technology that is required for missile systems. The candidate must have demonstrated expertise in aerodynamics, guidance, thermophysics, navigation, control, propulsion, or other fundamental technical disciplines, that has led to substantial improvement in missile systems.

Provided by American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics