We have all heard the term, what are you, a ‘rocket scientist’?
Probably without really ever realizing what it means and what that type
of science really does. This is a public misnomer that refers to
astronautical engineering. Aerospace engineering services deal with the
science and technology of flight for earth or space.
Aerospace Engineering
This
branch of engineering specifically deals with manned and unmanned
flight. There are two fields of study, astronautical that deals with
space flight and aeronautical that deals with flight within the earth’s
atmosphere. The companies that provide services in these areas are
aerospace engineering companies. Services could be provided for
government space agencies such as NASA or aircraft makers like Boeing.
Service Areas
Different companies specialize in different areas of the field and
could deal with any number of the following areas as applied to
aerospace engineering.
> Flight Testing – is
an area that develops and gathers data during test flights of new
aircraft. It is meant to uncover design flaws and validate the
capabilities of the aircraft for certification and current regulations
> Materials Science –
applies applied physics and chemistry in the study of materials at the
molecular level, popularized by micro and nanotechnology.
> Solid Mechanics –
involves observing the behaviors solid materials under forces of change
from motion, temperature, chemical or other external agents.
> Aircraft Structures –
design and development of aircraft to withstand the pressures of its
intended flight, with the aim of aerodynamically lightweight flight.
> Control Engineering –
as flight has continued to develop, more complex use of electronic and
computer controls has demanded expanded capabilities and to study it
with control theory designs.
> Fluid Dynamics – is the specific study of aerodynamics, for better designed aircraft.
> Astrodynamics – deals with the practical problems of the application of ballistics and celestial mechanics on the motion of objects in space.
> Avionics – is the application and design of computer programming systems aboard flight craft.
> Noise Control – tries to reduce noise pollution by controlling noise migration and abatement, especially important in commercial flights.
> Mathematics –
within aerospace engineering services, mathematics is the backbone of
most applied science. Good mathematical modeling based on real effects
of natural phenomenon provides solid proof for statistical modeling in
most other disciplines.
> Propulsion – is where the rocket science is provided for most flight mechanics. It provides the required energy to move the flight craft.
> Risk Assessment – provides the mathematical study of risk and reliability to an overall design before the first test flight is conducted.
> Aero elasticity – concerns the ability of materials to flutter in a breeze applied to structural design during flight.
> Statics and Dynamics – are engineering mechanics that provides models for movement and forces in mechanical systems.