Purdue alumni have flown more than one-third of all manned U.S. flights, including Gus Grissom from Project Mercury in 1961; Neil Armstrong, Eugene Cernan and Grissom in the Gemini program in 1965 and 1966, and Armstrong and Cernan in the Apollo program from 1969–1972. Neil Armstrong and Eugene Cernan, respectively, were the first and last men to set foot on the moon.

Leah H. Jamieson, interim dean for the Purdue University College of Engineering and a named professor of electrical and computer engineering on was appointed dean of the college on Aug. 2, 2006.

Purdue weekend in Naples, Florida, is an annual event that celebrates the generosity of the University's premier giving society, the President's Council. Through the generosity of President's Council members, the University is able to advance the goals of its strategic plan and The Campaign for Purdue.

Purdue officials on December 29 announced that with just over six months left to go in the Campaign for Purdue, the $1.5 billion fundraising goal has been surpassed, but the university will continue to seek campaign contributions through June.

Purdue alumni Commander Mark Polansky led NASA's most challenging mission to date ends with a successful landing at Kennedy Space Center on December 22, 2006.

Professor Mario Rotea has been elevated to the grade of Fellow in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for contributions to robust and optimal control of multivariable systems.

More than 600 youngsters from three states are expected at Purdue University's Fall Space Day where they will meet Purdue alumnus and astronaut Gregory N. Harbaugh and participate in a number of space-related activities.

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin named nine new members to the NASA Advisory Council in September of 2006, including School of Aeronautics & Astronautics faculty member, Professor John P. Sullivan.

Researchers at Purdue University have created a mathematical simulation that could be used in a new national strategy to ease airport congestion and improve the overall transportation system.

Purdue research into combustion instability to help NASA develop rockets faster and less expensively for future missions to Mars and the moon.