81 Aerospace Engineering Facts That Will Get You Inspired To Become One

Aerospace engineering is a trade that applies engineering sciences to the development and the study of aircraft, their speeds, and all the advanced technologies required to improve the overall aerospace technology.

Regarded as one of the most advanced branches of engineering, aerospace engineering has indeed allowed humankind to reach for the skies. Professional engineering can come with the cost of having a lot of work like learning aircraft design, structural design, flight mechanics, aerospace systems, and much more.

Aerospace engineers mostly deal with two types of engineering, namely aeronautical and astronautical. Aeronautical engineers work with aircraft and are responsible for designing the aircraft and its propulsion systems. Their work is based on theory, technology, and flight practice within the Earth's atmosphere.

On the other hand, astronautical engineers are responsible for spacecraft's operation, science, technology, and how they perform inside and outside Earth's atmosphere.

Remember to also check out our other fascinating articles about 1927 inventions and 1960 inventions.

Fun Facts About Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineers work on airplanes, space vehicles, aircraft, the development of space shuttles, satellite development, and even missile development and rockets.

If that isn't all, the engineers must test the flight designs and crafts for safety. Those among the best aerospace engineers in the US are sought out and employed by the federal government.

Sometimes aerospace engineering has to deal with various basic issues that might seem rather trivial, but it is these minor ones that require the most attention, like propulsion management, material science, and aerodynamics. Natural conditions such as wind can sometimes be subjected to the aircraft or spacecraft.

Air can potentially cause structural damage, such as rust, to the parts of the aircraft. Aerospace engineers can tackle these problems through science and a trained understanding of physics. In the USA, if and when an engineer develops a new design, it needs to be run past the federal government for approval.

Facts About An Aerospace Engineer's Job

Aerospace engineers' jobs are not only to design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles but also to test them to guarantee that they can perform perfectly.

As far as the field area is concerned, an aeronautical engineer's job is suited for individuals who are physically fit. However, physically challenged people can also work as aeronautical engineers in specific fields if their impairment does not interfere with their assigned job.

It is not a clear rule that only people of a certain gender can do the job of an aeronautical engineer. Anyone with the ability, regardless of gender, can pursue a career as an aerospace engineer.

Facts About Aerospace Engineering Education

The key subjects that an aerospace engineer has to focus on are science and mathematics. More specifically, physics.

Aerospace engineers must devote their time to their studies in order to bring forth spacecraft technologies. Most engineers who bring about some of the best technologies have completed their training and earned a master's in aerospace engineering.

However, a bachelor's degree is the minimal requirement to start out in aerospace engineering. Undergrad students who are studying aerospace engineering study in classrooms that are allotted for them.

Aerospace engineering education takes about four years to acquire a degree. Undergraduates study propulsion, mechanics, and even aeronautical engineering, with overlapping branches.

Aeronautical engineering sends us away from the Earth and into the endless skies.

Engineers have come together to build from the basics to the most advanced of aerospace technology, so much so that now we have about 4,800 satellites orbiting the Earth.

Facts About Development In Aerospace Engineering

From a simple two-manned aircraft to a commercial aircraft that can carry about 850 passengers at a time, we have come a long way in aerospace engineering.

As an aerospace engineer develops and gains more experience, the engineer requires a license to make any change in propulsion or the spacecraft. Licensed aerospace engineers are called professional engineers.

It's not just the skies that we have been reaching for, but also other planets. We have created spacecraft that let us walk on the moon and satellites that are currently orbiting Earth and Mars. We have achieved a lot, even in the engineering of the international space station. There are astronauts that are even currently working in outer space to help in decoding the answers of the universe.

Aerospace engineering has come a long way from the very first flight. Currently, because of our modern and advanced aerospace engineers, we have now achieved the highest level of engineering possible. Engineering is not only about the mechanics or the aviation of the aircraft or spacecraft, but it also involves the development and maintenance of the material choices that go into the creation of the aircraft or spacecraft.

One of the most recent innovations by aerospace engineers from NASA is a great example of engineering skill, where they tested a technology called the Spanwise Adaptive Wing. The engineering consisted of an alloy that could bend and fold. This was used in the wings of an aircraft.

Another example of the brilliance of aerospace engineers was when they put their engineering skills into the creation of the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit.

Did you know?

Aerospace engineering can be traced all the way back to 1799. However, the first definition of aerospace engineering came about later in 1958. Robert Hutchings Goddard was the first official aerospace engineer.

If you ever wish to become an aerospace engineer, there are certain terms that you should know. For instance, astrodynamics is the study of mechanics and also the scientific way of predicting orbital elements. Not many schools in the United States of America teach this subject at an undergrad level. However, some graduate programs do cover this topic.

Propulsion is the energy that allows a vehicle to move through the air or in a vacuum. This energy is provided by internal combustion engines, jet engines, or even rockets.

It would help if you also familiarize yourself with material science and solid mechanics. If you ever wish to join the list of well-known aerospace engineers, you must know that it is a job that requires a lot of aerospace structures to be built from time to time.

This is where materials science comes into the picture. On the other hand, solid mechanics deals with stress and strain analysis of the vehicle's parts. There are several platforms to study solid mechanics for aerospace engineers, like MSC Patran and Nastaran, which aid aerospace engineers and help them achieve their goal in the analytical process. This is very often confused with materials science, but aerospace engineers must understand that both terms are entirely different but closely related.

Lastly, flight testing is an important term to familiarize yourself with as it is one of the most important parts of the career of aerospace engineers. Aerospace engineers must be able to execute test flight programs so that they may be able to gather data and analyze performance and handling qualities to make sure that the aircraft that they will be putting out meets the design and performance goals.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 81 aerospace engineering facts that will get you inspired to become one, then why not take a look at 1966 inventions or 1968 inventions?