Summary

The Spacecraft Thermal Control Workshop (STCW) plays a critical role in today’s space industry, fostering communication among representatives from industry, government, and academia. The workshop highlights the latest trends in spacecraft thermal management, technology needs, and drivers, and encourages an understanding of how thermal science and engineering are being applied toward mission success today and into the future.

The objective of this annual workshop, now in its 36th year, is to provide the aerospace community a forum to share new technology developments, analytical techniques, and lessons learned in spacecraft thermal control. Sessions at this year's workshop will address aspects of spacecraft thermal control, including:

· Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML) Spacecraft Thermal Control
· Spacecraft Thermal Control for AI & ML
· Advanced Thermal Control Hardware
· Spacecraft Thermal Design
· Advanced Analysis Methods and Techniques
· Thermal Test Methods and Applications
· Lessons Learned in Spacecraft Thermal Control
· Heat Pipe and Pumped Loop Technology
· Thermal Control for Emerging Space Systems

Who should attend the 2026 Spacecraft Thermal Control Workshop?
Thermal engineers, systems engineers, program office managers, and professors or students involved in thermal sciences research. Representatives from industry, academia, government, and the military are encouraged to attend.

Dates:
Tuesday, March 31 through Thursday, April 2, 2026

Location:
The Aerospace Corporation
210 South Douglas Street
El Segundo, California 90245

2026 Preliminary Workshop Highlights:
· Thermal Technology Roadmaps
· Keynote Address by Shawn Sloan, Aerospace Corporate Fellow for Artificial Intelligence
· Panel Discussion on AI/ML for thermal engineers
· Breakout Sessions
· Technical Presentations from the broader Spacecraft Thermal Control community

The 2026 workshop format, as in the past couple of years, will be a "hybrid" workshop, with both in-person and virtual attendance options. In-person attendance will be at The Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, CA. We will be asking virtual presenters to pre-record their presentations and be available following the broadcast for a live Q&A. The workshop will feature a Roadmaps session, two live Breakout Sessions for moderated topical discussions, a Panel Discussion, and as many full presentations as our agenda allows.

At the time of registration, all attendees will be given a survey of topics to gauge their interest in each of the different technical subjects we cover in the workshop. We will focus on the areas indicated of greatest interest in each year's workshop. The panel discussion and breakout topics this year will be selected based on interest reflected during registration. If you would like to request additional topics for this year’s or a future year’s discussion, or if you would like to volunteer for the panel discussion, please email stcw.mailbox@aero.org

Workshop Committee

General Chair
John McHale

Administrative Chair
Trystan Madison

Roadmaps Chair
Andres Munoz Hernandez

Technical Chairs
Payton Batliner
Adon Delgado
Anthony Kelly
Madhusudhan Kundrapu
Alex Pagano
Martin Schmeidler
Andrew Tillinghast
Natalie Walsh
Jessica Zhang

Please contact the committee at:
stcw.mailbox@aero.org

Proceedings
Digital copies of the 2026 Proceedings will be made available to attendees at the beginning of this year’s Workshop via an emailed link.

Digital copies of previous workshop proceedings (2002-2025) are available from The Aerospace Corporation by emailing stcw.mailbox@aero.org.

The cost of the STCW Proceedings is $20 for each copy and year.
Make checks payable to
The Aerospace Corporation/STCW Proceedings; we can only accept checks for payment except during registration.

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Policy and Procedures

Photography
Your attendance and participation at this event is consent to be photographed, video-recorded, and/or screen-captured on Zoom, Teams, WebEx or similar virtual meeting platforms, for use by The Aerospace Corporation for internal and external (public) use. If you do not wish to be captured in photo or video formats, or virtual platforms, please inform the event organizer. Attendees are not permitted to take photos, video, or screen shots of virtual meetings during workshop session.

Prohibition Against Harassment and Retaliation
Please review the Prohibition Against Harassment and Retaliation policy.

Registration / Request to be Added to the Invitee List
For questions concerning registration or to add your name to the invitee list, please contact the workshop registrar, Venus Boone at 424-321-1508, techworkshops@aero.org.