University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies


The University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies is an advanced research facility for aeronautics and aerospace engineering, located in the Downsview district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Established in 1949 by founding Director Gordon N. Patterson, the institute is managed by the University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering and mainly receives funding from governmental agencies such as the National Research Council, the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Space Agency. Notable international sponsors include the European Space Agency, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik, NASA Ames Research Center and the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

History

In 1970, the institute was involved in the emergency rescue of the Apollo 13 astronauts, after the mission was aborted by a major accident en route to the Moon. UTIAS was contacted for assistance due to its expertise in shockwaves and aerospace dynamics. Engineers and scientists at UTIAS calculated the amount of pressure needed to separate the Lunar Module from the Command/Service Module without damaging the hatch, allowing the crew to survive the re-entry to Earth. Observing the 40th anniversary of the incident in 2010, lunar module pilot Fred Haise wrote a letter thanking the UTIAS team for its contribution.
In recent years, the institute has produced the world's first microwave-powered aircraft, the world's first engine-powered ornithopter, and Canada's first space telescope, MOST. The major expertise areas represented are aircraft design, particularly at subsonic speeds, flight simulation, space mechatronics and robotics, microsatellite technology, computational fluid dynamics and nuclear fusion. The institute's partners in the aerospace industry include Bombardier Aerospace, MD Robotics and General Atomics. It operates the Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiment Program for the study and testing of nanosatellite technology.

Past Faculty

The following professors have been granted Professor Emeritus status at UTIAS:
NameDegreesFromToResearch AreaNotable PublicationsNotes
J. D. DeLaurierB.S., M.S., Ph.D. 1974Low-speed Aerodynamics
Jaap H. de LeeuwDipl. Eng, M.S, Ph.D.1958UTIAS Director 1975-1985,
Bernard "Ben" EtkinB.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D. 1942Flight Dynamics, Member, Order of Canada;
John Barry FrenchB.A.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.1961Rarefied Gasdynamics, Mass SpectrometryMember, Order of Canada, co-founder of Sciex, Limited and Gedex Systems Inc.
Irvine Israel GlassPh.D.1950Shock Waves, Died 1994
James J. GottliebB.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D.Computational Fluid Dynamics, Shock Waves
Anthony A. HaaszB.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D.1972Fusion MaterialsUTIAS Director 1995-2005,
Jorn S. HansenB.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D. Solid Mechanics, Aircraft Structures
Peter C. HughesB.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D., MBA 1966Spacecraft Dynamics and Control, Founder of Dynacon Enterprises Limited
Gordon W. JohnstonB.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D. 1970Aeroacoustics
Gordon N. PattersonFounding UTIAS Director 1949-1974,
Lloyd D. ReidB.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D.1965Aircraft Stability and Control, Piloted Aircraft Performance
Herbert Spencer RibnerB.S., M.S. & Ph.D. 1955Aeroacoustics
J. P. SislianM.Sc., Cand. Phys. & Math. Sci., Ph.D.Died 5 May 2015
P. C. StangebyB.Sc., M.Sc., Dipl.Sci., D.Phil.1972Fusion Energy Technology
Philip A. SullivanB.E., M.E., D.I.C., Ph.D.1965Air Cushion Vehicles
B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D.1965Aerospace Structures and MaterialsUTIAS Director 1985-1995

Past Professors
NameDegreesFromToResearch Area
M.Eng., M.Sc., Ph.D. 20022009Multi-Disciplinary Optimization
Raymond MeasuresPh.D. 19641991Lasers, Plasmas, Optical Fibres and Structural Sensing
B.A.Sc., M.A.Sc., Ph.D. 19781989Aeroacoustics

Notable alumni