Aerospace engineer. Distinguished attorney. Blue Origin vice president. Audrey Powers has been successful in an impressive array of roles - and it all started at Purdue. When she was a student, she strengthened the skills she needed to tackle tough challenges, leading her to where she is today.

When NASA’s Artemis II crew successfully slingshotted around the Moon in April 2026, it marked the first time in more than 50 years that humans made such a journey.

But human spaceflight is about more than just rockets and technology. It's about card games. And coping with frozen toilets. And living with others in a tiny capsule for two weeks, having your actions and conversations broadcast live to the world. The person responsible for that side of the experience is NASA's Chief of the Astronaut Office, Purdue graduate Scott Tingle.

The Quarter Horse named Sassy was seriously hurt during near 100 mile-per-hour winds where she lived in Saint Louis, Michigan. The large animal surgery, diagnostic imaging, and ophthalmology services worked with the help of expertise from Purdue's School of Aeronautics and Astronautics to 3D print Sassy a protective helmet that would hopefully prevent her fractured bones from dislodging and causing further complications.

Purdue graduate student Abigail Mizzi is thankful for the many Boilermakers who helped her build the skills and knowledge necessary to participate in the Purdue 1 commercial suborbital spaceflight in 2027.

A startup founded by Purdue University faculty and alumni is releasing a virtual simulation of D-Day operations through the online gaming platform Steam. The launch and demonstration of this learning tool, called Virtual D-Day, will take place Tuesday (June 2) at the Purdue@DC offices.

Emily Spreen doesn't have one of the most interesting roles in aerospace - she has two.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center, she's an engineer helping humans return to the moon. She also leads a team positioning the recovery forces that retrieve a crew and spacecraft following their return to Earth and splashdown in the ocean.

More than 10,000 Purdue University graduates took their next giant leap during nine spring commencement ceremonies May 14-16 at Elliott Hall of Music. This marked the second consecutive year the university has surpassed 10,000 graduates during spring commencement.

Purdue University awarded honorary doctorates to two distinguished Boilermaker alumni in business and aerospace engineering during the Spring 2026 Commencement ceremonies May 14-16 at Elliott Hall of Music.