The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at New Mexico State University (NMSU) welcomed researchers, engineers, and technical specialists from universities, national laboratories, government agencies, and industry for the 15th Ablation Workshop, held from November 18 to 20, 2025. It drew 112 attendees, including 41 students, 29 government employees, 25 academics, and 17 industry professionals from the US, France, UK, Belgium, Italy, and Japan, reflecting the workshop’s role as a central meeting point for the ablation and high-temperature materials community.
The program began with an evening registration reception featuring networking opportunities, followed by three days of technical presentations at the Corbett Center Student Union on the NMSU campus. Speakers shared recent developments in ablation physics, modeling strategies, experimental techniques, and applications supporting next-generation aerospace systems. Sessions were opened by Dr. Jay Misra, Associate Dean for Research in the College of Engineering, and featured contributions from senior experts as well as early-career researchers representing a wide range of institutions.
Attendees also visited Spaceport America to learn more about regional flight-testing capabilities and ongoing aerospace activities in New Mexico. The tour provided valuable context for the workshop’s discussions on materials behavior, thermal protection design, and high-temperature testing environments, offering direct insights into industry and national security applications.
Throughout the week, participants engaged in formal presentations, Q&A discussions, and a poster session highlighting cutting-edge research from students, national labs, and industry teams. The community then gathered for a gala at the New Mexico Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, featuring vibrant performances by NMSU Mariachi Orgullo and Ballet Folklorico Orgullo de NM. There, Dr. David Jauregui, Dean of the College of Engineering, shared remarks appreciating the workshop's role in advancing the field, while Drs. Martin (University of Kentucky), Jauregui (NMSU), and Torres-Herrador (NMSU) presented a commemorative plaque honoring Dr. Nagi Mansour, recently retired Chief Division Scientist at NASA Ames Research Center, for his contributions to hypersonics and ablation research.
"The Ablation Workshop brings incredible opportunities for our students to network and receive feedback from some of the world's most renowned scientists in ablation research." — Dr. Francisco Torres-Herrador, Local Organizer
The workshop concluded with an ITAR-restricted session at NMSU’s Physical Science Laboratory, providing a secure forum for defense-related research updates and technical exchange. This component underscored the ongoing need for protected channels of communication across government, industry, and academic collaborators.
Through the full program, the workshop supported the advancement of hypersonics, aerothermodynamics, and thermal protection research by strengthening communication between disciplines and enabling coordinated research efforts. The next Ablation Workshop is scheduled for September 2026 and will again be held at New Mexico State University, continuing the institution’s leadership in supporting national and international progress in high-temperature materials and aerospace research.
This year’s workshop was made possible through the support of key partners committed to advancing high-temperature material research, aerospace innovation, and scientific collaboration. NMSU’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering extends its appreciation to the following sponsors:
• New Mexico Consortium • New Mexico Space Grant Consortium • Sandia National Laboratories • Spaceport America • Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA)
