Aerospace engineering is literally rocket science. It involves designing, building, testing, and maintaining flying machines like rockets, planes, satellites, and missiles. If you want to design big things like a Mars Shuttle, or smaller machines like delivery drones, then aerospace engineering is for you.
Aerospace engineering includes:
- Aeronautical engineering – building machines that fly in the air.
- Astronautical engineering – building machines that go into space.
Aerospace engineers work on every aspect of aircraft and spacecraft design including propulsion and engines, aerodynamics, materials and structure, controls and stability, electronics, safety, and production techniques.
Physics and mathematics are essential. Therefore, you need to take these subjects in school, and do well in them.
Here are some general tips for choosing a university or college:
- Make sure the program is fully accredited locally and/or internationally.
- If your university does not offer an aerospace program, consider mechanical engineering, and then take the aerodynamic focused electives or consider an advanced degree after you complete your bachelors or undergraduate degree.
- Consider accredited engineering programs offered by technical or community colleges.
One of the many benefits of aerospace engineering is that it can be a launch pad into many different careers. Aerospace engineers, in most parts of the world, are highly valued and very well paid.
To learn more about the kind of work you could do, check out GE's Aerospace projects and their plans for the future of flight: Aerospace | GE Research
Typical employers include large private companies and research organizations:
- General Electric
- Airbus
- SpaceX
- NASA
- The European Space Agency
Watch the following videos to meet some inspiring aerospace engineers.
