Aerospace Users Group Meeting

MTS Systems is pleased to announce the 2026 MTS Aerospace Users Group Meeting, which will take place at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Florida’s Space Coast — October 27–29, 2026. This complimentary event will feature dual tracks in structures and materials testing, tours of local aerospace attractions, plus optional software training led by MTS Systems Integration Engineers. Scroll this web site to learn more, book your hotel, and monitor the evolving meeting agenda. Register today, consider presenting, and join us in October to advance the collective knowledge of our unique expert community.

Accommodations & Daily Transportation
2026 meeting attendees are responsible for arranging and paying for their own accommodations and travel to and from the Orlando/Cape Canaveral area.

MTS-recommended Hotels
For your convenience, MTS has reserved blocks of rooms at two adjoining Cocoa Beach hotels for the nights of October 26-29, 2026, at a special group rate of 199.00 USD per night. Use the links below to reserve one of these affordably priced rooms - the last day to book your room will be September 27, 2026.

• Hampton Inn By Hilton Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral
  3425 North Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
  +1 321-799-4099 press 0 for front desk/reservations
  Book Your Room
  
  
• Courtyard by Marriott Cocoa Beach Cape Canaveral
  3435 North Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931
  +1 321-784-4800 press 0 for front desk/reservations
  Book Your Room    Note: Guests will see a $15 parking fee on their booking receipt, which will be taken off at check-in.

Daily Transportation: 
Free daily shuttles will be provided for travel between the Cocoa Beach hotels and all scheduled users group meeting activities.

Call for Presentations & Topics Please consider authoring a presentation on your organization’s unique aerospace structural or materials testing experiences - real-world case studies from users like you are what make these meetings especially worthwhile. Feel free to contact Jeff or John to discuss ideas for presentations, co-authoring a presentation with MTS, and/or general discussion topics that you would like to see addressed. Refer to the working meeting agenda below for available presentation time slots.
Jeff VanLangendon Structures Business Development  jeff.vanlangendon@mts.com	John Minotti Materials Business Development john.minotti@mts.com

Working Meeting Agenda - updated March 30, 2026; subject to change

Monday, October 26, 2026
17:30	Pre-meeting Welcome Reception: Courtyard by Marriott Cocoa Beach Cape Canaveral
Tuesday, October 27, 2026 (Day 1)
07:45	Shuttles depart Cocoa Beach hotels for Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Visitor Complex
08:15	Sign-in / Networking
08:30	Day 1 Welcome
08:45	Opening Remarks: Blue Origin
	Structures Track		Materials Track
09:30	SAAB (topic tbd)		High and Low Cycle Fatigue Testing of Additively Manufactured, Polymer Matrix Composite and Ceramic Matrix Composite Materials Coupons - NIAR
10:00	Latest AeroPro Software Features – MTS Systems		Testing Short Specimens to Enable Research and Development, and Lot Acceptance of Additively Manufactured Materials – MTS Systems
10:30	Break / Networking
11:00	Blue Origin (topic tbd)		New Products to Enable a More Complete and Integrated MTS Testing System and Experience – MTS Systems
11:30	New Test-Accelerating Compensator Technology – MTS Systems
12:00	Lunch
13:00	Airbus (topic tbd)		High Temperature and Low Temperature Testing of Materials - NIAR
13:30	Premium Test Article Safety Solution – MTS Systems		Ultra-High Temperature Testing Environments: Testing Beyond 2000°C – MTS Systems
14:00	- reserved for user -		MTS Integrated Non-Contact Strain Sensing – MTS Systems
14:30	Break / Networking
15:00	Control & Data Acquisition Advancements – MTS Systems		TestSuite Automation: Advancements in Specimen Protection and Autotuning – MTS Systems
15:30	Bombardier – tentative		High-Volume Contract Testing of Composites - reserved for user
16:00	Presenter Panel / Q&A		High-Volume Contract Testing of Metals - reserved for user
16:30	Day 1 Conclusion
16:45	Shuttles depart KSC Visitor Complex for Cocoa Beach hotels
18:30	Shuttles depart Cocoa Beach hotels for Fishlips Waterfront Bar & Grill
18:45	Refreshments / Networking
19:15	Group Dinner
22:00	Shuttles depart restaurant for Cocoa Beach hotels

Wednesday, October 28, 2026 (Day 2)
07:45	Shuttles depart Cocoa Beach hotels for KSC Visitor Complex
08:15	Networking
08:30	Day 2 Welcome
08:45	MTS Manufacturing and Lead Time Improvements of Standard Products and Continued Support of Custom Solution Production – MTS Systems
09:15	Flextest Life Extension and Hardware Upgradeability for Future Applications – MTS Systems
09:45	Break / Networking
	Structures Track	Materials Track
10:15	Blue Origin (topic tbd)	Structural Testing of Aerospace Components Using MTS 311 Load Frames – Blue Origin
10:45	- available -	- available -
11:15	Lunch / Closing Remarks
12:30	Kennedy Space Center Tours
16:30	Shuttles depart KSC Visitor Complex for Cocoa Beach hotels
Thursday, October 29, 2026 (Optional Day 3)
Courtyard by Marriott Cocoa Beach Cape Canaveral
	AeroPro Academy	MTS TestSuite Academy
08:30	- in development -	TestSuite Templates, Programming and Other Features, and Non-Contact Strain Sensing Integration
12:00	Lunch
13:00	- in development -	Expert Measuring Cracks with Direct Current Potential Drop – Hands-On
15:00	Training Day Conclusion

Questions? If you have questions or require assistance in planning your users group meeting attendance, please contact:
Paul Lehman Senior MarComm Specialist paul.lehman@mts.com	Mackenzie Dunnigan Human Resources Specialist mackenzie.dunnigan@mts.com