The American Astronautical Society (AAS) is an independent U.S. professional society founded in 1954 to advance spaceflight and astronautics. It brings together engineers, scientists, operators, educators, policymakers, historians, and students through technical meetings, symposia, public programs, scholarships, awards, professional publications, and international cooperation. Its recurring programs include the Goddard Memorial Symposium, the Von Braun Space Exploration Symposium, the ISS Research and Development Conference, the Student CanSat Competition, and the Journal of the Astronautical Sciences.