About aerospace engineering - Revision history

wikademia>Eme: /* Aerospace engineering degrees */

2011-06-26T23:46:09Z

Aerospace engineering degrees

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:46, 26 June 2011
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	==Aerospace engineering degrees==		==Aerospace engineering degrees==
	~~{{See also\|List of aerospace engineering schools}}~~
	~~{{Globalize\|section\|USA\|UK\|Ireland}}~~

	Aerospace (or aeronautical) engineering can be studied at the [[diploma\|advanced diploma]], [[bachelor's degree\|bachelor's]], [[master's degree\|master's]], and [[Doctor of Philosophy\|Ph.D.]] levels in aerospace engineering departments at many universities, and in mechanical engineering departments at others. A few departments offer degrees in space-focused astronautical engineering. The Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands offers one of the top European aerospace educational and research platforms, while the programs of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and [[Rutgers University]] are two such examples.<ref name="gruntman"/> [[U.S. News & World Report]] ranks the aerospace engineering programs at the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]], [[Georgia Institute of Technology]], and the [[University of Michigan]] within the top three best programs for doctorate granting universities. However, other top programs within the ten best in the United States include those of [[Purdue University]], [[California Institute of Technology]], [[University of Maryland]], [[University of Illinois]], [[Stanford University]], [[University of Texas at Austin]], and [[Virginia Tech]] in that order.<ref name=US_news_best_Aerospace_2009>[http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-doct-aero America's Best Colleges 2009: Aerospace / Aeronautical / Astronautical]. USNews.com</ref> The magazine also rates [[Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University]], and [[United States Air Force Academy]] as the premier aerospace engineering programs at universities that do not grant doctorate degrees.<ref name=US_news_best_2009>[http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-aero America's Best Colleges 2009: Aerospace / Aeronautical / Astronautical]. USNews.com</ref>		Aerospace (or aeronautical) engineering can be studied at the [[diploma\|advanced diploma]], [[bachelor's degree\|bachelor's]], [[master's degree\|master's]], and [[Doctor of Philosophy\|Ph.D.]] levels in aerospace engineering departments at many universities, and in mechanical engineering departments at others. A few departments offer degrees in space-focused astronautical engineering. The Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands offers one of the top European aerospace educational and research platforms, while the programs of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and [[Rutgers University]] are two such examples.<ref name="gruntman"/> [[U.S. News & World Report]] ranks the aerospace engineering programs at the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]], [[Georgia Institute of Technology]], and the [[University of Michigan]] within the top three best programs for doctorate granting universities. However, other top programs within the ten best in the United States include those of [[Purdue University]], [[California Institute of Technology]], [[University of Maryland]], [[University of Illinois]], [[Stanford University]], [[University of Texas at Austin]], and [[Virginia Tech]] in that order.<ref name=US_news_best_Aerospace_2009>[http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-doct-aero America's Best Colleges 2009: Aerospace / Aeronautical / Astronautical]. USNews.com</ref> The magazine also rates [[Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University]], and [[United States Air Force Academy]] as the premier aerospace engineering programs at universities that do not grant doctorate degrees.<ref name=US_news_best_2009>[http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-aero America's Best Colleges 2009: Aerospace / Aeronautical / Astronautical]. USNews.com</ref>

wikademia>Eme: /* See also */

2009-12-15T00:19:36Z

wikademia>Eme: /* External links */

2009-12-15T00:19:26Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:19, 15 December 2009
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	==External links==		==External links==
	* [http://www.waset.org/journals/ijmiae/ International Journal of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering]		* [http://www.waset.org/journals/ijmiae/ International Journal of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering]

	~~{{Technology-footer}}~~
	~~{{Academic degrees}}~~

	[[Category:Aerospace engineering\| ]]		[[Category:Aerospace engineering\| ]]
	[[Category:Engineering disciplines]]		[[Category:Engineering disciplines]]

wikademia>Eme at 00:19, 15 December 2009

2009-12-15T00:19:05Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:19, 15 December 2009
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	~~{{Infobox Occupation~~
	~~\| name= Aerospace engineer~~
	~~\| image= [[Image:Apollo 13 Mailbox at Mission Control.jpg\|300px]]~~
	~~\| caption= NASA engineers, like the ones depicted in [[Apollo 13 (film)\|Apollo 13]], worked diligently to protect the lives of the astronauts on the mission.~~
	~~\| official_names= engineer<br/>aerospace engineer~~
	~~<!------------Details------------------->~~
	~~\| type= [[profession]]~~
	~~\| activity_sector= [[aeronautics]], [[astronautics]], science~~
	~~\| competencies= technical knowledge, management skills~~
	~~\| formation= see [[#Aerospace engineering degrees\|professional requirements]]~~
	~~\| employment_field= [[technology]], [[science]], [[military]]~~
	~~\| related_occupation=~~
	~~\| average_salary=~~
	}}
	'''Aerospace engineering''' is the branch of [[engineering]] behind the design, construction and science of [[aircraft]] and [[spacecraft]]. It is broken into two major and overlapping branches: [[Aeronautics\|aeronautical]] engineering and [[Astronautics\|astronautical]] engineering. The former deals with craft that stay within [[Earth]]'s [[atmosphere]], and the latter deals with craft that operate outside of Earth's atmosphere.		'''Aerospace engineering''' is the branch of [[engineering]] behind the design, construction and science of [[aircraft]] and [[spacecraft]]. It is broken into two major and overlapping branches: [[Aeronautics\|aeronautical]] engineering and [[Astronautics\|astronautical]] engineering. The former deals with craft that stay within [[Earth]]'s [[atmosphere]], and the latter deals with craft that operate outside of Earth's atmosphere.

wikademia>Dr. Eme: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerospace_engineering

2009-10-23T16:57:15Z

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerospace_engineering

New page

{{Infobox Occupation
| name= Aerospace engineer
| image= [[Image:Apollo 13 Mailbox at Mission Control.jpg|300px]]
| caption= NASA engineers, like the ones depicted in [[Apollo 13 (film)|Apollo 13]], worked diligently to protect the lives of the astronauts on the mission.
| official_names= engineer<br/>aerospace engineer

| type= [[profession]]
| activity_sector= [[aeronautics]], [[astronautics]], science
| competencies= technical knowledge, management skills
| formation= see [[#Aerospace engineering degrees|professional requirements]]
| employment_field= [[technology]], [[science]], [[military]]
| related_occupation=
| average_salary=
}}
'''Aerospace engineering''' is the branch of [[engineering]] behind the design, construction and science of [[aircraft]] and [[spacecraft]]. It is broken into two major and overlapping branches: [[Aeronautics|aeronautical]] engineering and [[Astronautics|astronautical]] engineering. The former deals with craft that stay within [[Earth]]'s [[atmosphere]], and the latter deals with craft that operate outside of Earth's atmosphere.

While '''aeronautical engineering''' was the original term, the broader "[[aerospace]]" has superseded it in usage, as flight technology advanced to include craft operating in [[outer space]].<ref name="britannica">{{cite encyclopedia
| title = Engineering
| author = Stanzione, Kaydon Al
| encyclopedia = Encyclopædia Britannica
| volume = 18
| edition = 15
| pages = 563–563
| year = 1989
| location = Chicago }}</ref> Aerospace engineering, particularly the astronautics branch, is often informally called [[rocket science]].<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rocket%20science Dictionary.com: rocket science <small>(see ROCKETRY)</small>]</ref>

==Overview==
Modern flight vehicles undergo severe conditions such as differences in [[atmospheric pressure]], and [[temperature]], with [[structural load]]s applied upon vehicle components. Consequently, they are usually the products of various technologies including [[aerodynamics]], [[avionics]], [[materials science]] and [[propulsion]]. These technologies are collectively known as aerospace engineering. Because of the complexity of the field, aerospace engineering is conducted by a team of engineers, each specializing in their own branches of science.<ref name="Princeton's">{{cite web |url=http://www.princetonreview.com/cte/profiles/dayInLife.asp?careerID=5 |title=Career: Aerospace Engineer |accessdate=2006-10-08 |work=Career Profiles |publisher=The Princeton Review |quote=Due to the complexity of the final product, an intricate and rigid organizational structure for production has to be maintained, severely curtailing any single engineer's ability to understand his role as it relates to the final project. }}</ref> The development and manufacturing of a flight vehicle demands careful balance and compromise between abilities, design, available technology and costs.

==History==
{{See also|Aviation history}}
[[Alberto Santos-Dumont]], a pioneer who built the first machines able to fly, played an important role in the development of [[aviation]]. Some of the first ideas for powered flight may have come from [[Leonardo da Vinci]], who, although he did not build any successful models, did develop many sketches and ideas for "[[List of early flying machines|flying machines]]".

[[File:First flight2.jpg|thumb|left|[[Orville and Wilbur Wright]] flew the [[Wright Flyer]] I, the first airplane, on December 17, 1903 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.]]

The origin of aerospace engineering can be traced back to the aviation pioneers around the late 19th century to early 20th centuries, although the work of [[George Cayley|Sir George Cayley]] has recently been dated as being from the last decade of the 18th to mid 19th century. One of the most important people in the history of [[aeronautics]],<ref>{{cite web
| title = Sir George Carley
| url = http://www.flyingmachines.org/cayl.html
| publisher =
| accessdate = 2009-07-26
| quote = Sir George Cayley is one of the most important people in the history of aeronautics. Many consider him the first true scientific aerial investigator and the first person to understand the underlying principles and forces of flight.}}</ref> Cayley was a pioneer in aeronautical engineering<ref>{{cite web
| title = Sir George Carley (British Inventor and Scientist)
| url = http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/100795/Sir-George-Cayley-6th-Baronet
| publisher = Britannica
| accessdate = 2009-07-26
| quote = English pioneer of aerial navigation and aeronautical engineering and designer of the first successful glider to carry a human being aloft.}}</ref> and is credited as the first person to separate the forces of [[Lift (force)|lift]] and [[Drag (physics)|drag]], which are in effect on any flight vehicle.<ref>{{cite web
| title = The Pioneers: Aviation and Airmodelling
| url = http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/cayley.html
| publisher =
| accessdate = 2009-07-26
| quote = Sir George Cayley is sometimes called the 'Father of Aviation'. A pioneer in the field, he is credited with the first major breakthrough in heavier-than-air flight. He was the first to identify the four aerodynamic forces of flight - weight, lift, drag, and thrust - and their relationship and also the first to build a successful human carrying glider.}}</ref> Early knowledge of aeronautical engineering was largely empirical with some concepts and skills imported from other branches of engineering.<ref name="americana">{{cite encyclopedia
| author = [[Kermit Van Every]]
| encyclopedia = Encyclopedia Americana
| title = Aeronautical engineering
| edition =
| year = 1988
| publisher = Grolier Incorporated
| volume =1
}}</ref> Scientists understood some key elements of aerospace engineering , like [[fluid dynamics]], in the 18th century. Only a decade after the successful flights by the [[Wright brothers]], the 1910s saw the development of aeronautical engineering through the design of [[World War I]] military aircraft.

[[Image:S-IC engines and Von Braun.jpg|thumb|right|[[Wernher von Braun]], with the [[F-1 (rocket engine)|F-1]] engines of the [[Saturn V]] first stage at the [[United States Space & Rocket Center|US Space and Rocket Center]]]]

The first definition of aerospace engineering appeared in February 1958.<ref name="britannica" /> The definition considered the Earth's atmosphere and the outer space as a single realm, thereby encompassing both aircraft (''aero'') and spacecraft (''space'') under a newly coined word ''[[aerospace]]''. The [[NASA|National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] was founded in 1958 as a response to the Cold War. United States aerospace engineers launched the first American satellite on January 31, 1958 in response to the USSR launching [[Sputnik]] in October 4, 1957.<ref>[http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/factsheet.htm A Brief History of NASA]</ref>

==Elements==
{{See also|List of aerospace engineering topics}}
Some of the elements of aerospace engineering are:<ref name="open-site">
{{cite encyclopedia
| encyclopedia = [[Open Site]]
| title = Science: Engineering: Aerospace
| url = http://open-site.org/Science/Engineering/Aerospace/
| accessdate = 2006-10-08
}}</ref><ref name="gruntman">{{cite conference
| first = Mike
| last = Gruntman
| date = September 19, 2007
| title = The Time for Academic Departments in Astronautical Engineering
| conference = AIAA SPACE 2007 Conference & Exposition
| conferenceurl = http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=230&lumeetingid=1808&viewcon=submit
| booktitle = AIAA SPACE 2007 Conference & Exposition Agenda
| publisher = [[American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics|AIAA]]
| url = http://www.aiaa.org/agenda.cfm?lumeetingid=1808&viewcon=agenda&pageview=2&programSeeview=1&dateget=19-Sep-07&formatview=1
}}</ref>

*[[Fluid mechanics]] - the study of [[fluid]] flow around objects. Specifically [[aerodynamics]] concerning the flow of air over bodies such as [[wing]]s or through objects such as [[wind tunnel]]s (see also [[lift (force)|lift]] and [[aeronautics]]).
* [[Astrodynamics]] - the study of [[orbital mechanics]] including prediction of orbital elements when given a select few variables. While few schools in the United States teach this at the undergraduate level, several have graduate programs covering this topic (usually in conjunction with the Physics department of said college or university).
* [[Statics]] and [[Dynamics (physics)|Dynamics]] (engineering mechanics) - the study of movement, forces, moments in mechanical systems.
* [[Mathematics]] - in particular, [[calculus]], [[differential equations]], and [[linear algebra]].
* [[Electrotechnology]] - the study of electronics within engineering.
* Propulsion - the energy to move a vehicle through the air (or in outer space) is provided by [[internal combustion engine]]s, [[jet engine]]s and [[turbomachinery]], or [[rocket]]s (see also [[propeller]] and [[spacecraft propulsion]]). A more recent addition to this module is [[electric propulsion]] and [[ion propulsion]].
* [[Control engineering]] - the study of mathematical modeling of the [[Flight dynamics|dynamic]] behavior of systems and designing them, usually using feedback signals, so that their dynamic behavior is desirable (stable, without large excursions, with minimum error). This applies to the dynamic behavior of aircraft, spacecraft, propulsion systems, and subsystems that exist on aerospace vehicles.
* [[Aircraft structures]] - design of the physical configuration of the craft to withstand the forces encountered during flight. Aerospace engineering aims to keep structures lightweight.
* [[Materials science]] - related to structures, aerospace engineering also studies the materials of which the aerospace structures are to be built. New materials with very specific properties are invented, or existing ones are modified to improve their performance.
* [[Solid mechanics]] - Closely related to material science is solid mechanics which deals with stress and strain analysis of the components of the vehicle. Nowadays there are several Finite Element programs such as MSC Patran/Nastran which aid engineers in the analytical process.
* [[Aeroelasticity]] - the interaction of aerodynamic forces and structural flexibility, potentially causing [[Aeroelastic flutter|flutter]], divergence, etc.
* [[Avionics]] - the design and programming of computer systems on board an aircraft or spacecraft and the simulation of systems.
* [[Reliability engineering|Risk and reliability]] - the study of risk and reliability assessment techniques and the mathematics involved in the quantitative methods.
* [[Noise control]] - the study of the mechanics of sound transfer.
* [[Flight test]] - designing and executing flight test programs in order to gather and analyze performance and [[handling qualities]] data in order to determine if an aircraft meets its design and performance goals and certification requirements.

The basis of most of these elements lies in theoretical [[mathematics]], such as [[fluid dynamics]] for aerodynamics or the [[equations of motion]] for [[flight dynamics]]. However, there is also a large [[empiricism|empirical]] component. Historically, this empirical component was derived from testing of scale models and prototypes, either in wind tunnels or in the free atmosphere. More recently, advances in [[computing]] have enabled the use of [[computational fluid dynamics]] to simulate the behavior of fluid, reducing time and expense spent on wind-tunnel testing.

Additionally, aerospace engineering addresses the integration of all components that constitute an aerospace vehicle (subsystems including power, [[aerospace bearing]]s, communications, [[Temperature control|thermal control]], [[life support]], etc.) and its life cycle (design, temperature, pressure, [[radiation]], [[velocity]], [[Fatigue (material)|life time]]).

==Aerospace engineering degrees==
{{See also|List of aerospace engineering schools}}
{{Globalize|section|USA|UK|Ireland}}

Aerospace (or aeronautical) engineering can be studied at the [[diploma|advanced diploma]], [[bachelor's degree|bachelor's]], [[master's degree|master's]], and [[Doctor of Philosophy|Ph.D.]] levels in aerospace engineering departments at many universities, and in mechanical engineering departments at others. A few departments offer degrees in space-focused astronautical engineering. The Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands offers one of the top European aerospace educational and research platforms, while the programs of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and [[Rutgers University]] are two such examples.<ref name="gruntman"/> [[U.S. News & World Report]] ranks the aerospace engineering programs at the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]], [[Georgia Institute of Technology]], and the [[University of Michigan]] within the top three best programs for doctorate granting universities. However, other top programs within the ten best in the United States include those of [[Purdue University]], [[California Institute of Technology]], [[University of Maryland]], [[University of Illinois]], [[Stanford University]], [[University of Texas at Austin]], and [[Virginia Tech]] in that order.<ref name=US_news_best_Aerospace_2009>[http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-doct-aero America's Best Colleges 2009: Aerospace / Aeronautical / Astronautical]. USNews.com</ref> The magazine also rates [[Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University]], and [[United States Air Force Academy]] as the premier aerospace engineering programs at universities that do not grant doctorate degrees.<ref name=US_news_best_2009>[http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/spec-aero America's Best Colleges 2009: Aerospace / Aeronautical / Astronautical]. USNews.com</ref>

In the UK, Aerospace (or aeronautical) engineering can be studied for the [[B.Eng.]], [[M.Eng.]], [[MSc.]] and [[Ph.D.]] levels at a number of universities. The top universities include [[University of Cambridge]], [[Imperial College London]], [[University of Sheffield]], [[University of Strathclyde]], [[University of Glasgow]], [[Cranfield University]], [[University of Bristol]], [[University of Bath]], [[University of Manchester]] and the [[University of Southampton]].<ref>[http://extras.timesonline.co.uk/tol_gug/gooduniversityguide.php?AC_sub=Aeronautical+and+Manufacturing+Engineering&x=19&y=4&sub=1 University Rankings League Table 2009]</ref> The Department of Aeronautics at Imperial College London is noted for providing engineers for the [[Formula One]] industry,<ref>[http://www.grandprix.com/ft/ft00348.html Grandpix.com: The Imperial College]</ref> an industry that uses aerospace technology.

Aerospace can be studied at [[University of Limerick]] in Ireland. In Australia, the [[RMIT University]] offers Aerospace (or aeronautical) engineering and has more than 60 years teaching experience in this profession. [[Monash University]] also offers Aerospace Engineering.

==Popular culture==
The term "[[wikt:rocket scientist|rocket scientist]]" is at times used to describe a person of higher than average intelligence. Aerospace engineering has also been represented as the more "glittery" pinnacle of engineering. The movie ''[[Apollo 13 (film)|Apollo 13]]'' depicts the ground team as a group of heroes in a Hollywood fashion glorifying the intelligence and competence of ''white shirt and tie'' professionals. This was later extended in more detail in the 1998 [[HBO]] [[miniseries]] ''[[From the Earth to the Moon (TV miniseries)|From the Earth to the Moon]]''. The 2000s TV series [[Joey]] featured a PhD candidate in Aerospace Engineering. In the 1960s, the TV series [[My Three Sons]] featured a number of aerospace engineers among the fathers.

== See also ==
{{WVD}}
* [[List of aerospace engineering topics]]
* [[List of aerospace engineers]]
* [[American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics]]
* [[Sigma Gamma Tau]] (aerospace engineering honor society)
* [[Flight test]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.waset.org/journals/ijmiae/ International Journal of Mechanical, Industrial and Aerospace Engineering]

{{Technology-footer}}
{{Academic degrees}}

[[Category:Aerospace engineering| ]]
[[Category:Engineering disciplines]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:19, 15 December 2009
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~{{Infobox Occupation~~
	~~\| name= Aerospace engineer~~
	~~\| image= [[Image:Apollo 13 Mailbox at Mission Control.jpg\|300px]]~~
	~~\| caption= NASA engineers, like the ones depicted in [[Apollo 13 (film)\|Apollo 13]], worked diligently to protect the lives of the astronauts on the mission.~~
	~~\| official_names= engineer<br/>aerospace engineer~~
	~~<!------------Details------------------->~~
	~~\| type= [[profession]]~~
	~~\| activity_sector= [[aeronautics]], [[astronautics]], science~~
	~~\| competencies= technical knowledge, management skills~~
	~~\| formation= see [[#Aerospace engineering degrees\|professional requirements]]~~
	~~\| employment_field= [[technology]], [[science]], [[military]]~~
	~~\| related_occupation=~~
	~~\| average_salary=~~
	}}
	'''Aerospace engineering''' is the branch of [[engineering]] behind the design, construction and science of [[aircraft]] and [[spacecraft]]. It is broken into two major and overlapping branches: [[Aeronautics\|aeronautical]] engineering and [[Astronautics\|astronautical]] engineering. The former deals with craft that stay within [[Earth]]'s [[atmosphere]], and the latter deals with craft that operate outside of Earth's atmosphere.		'''Aerospace engineering''' is the branch of [[engineering]] behind the design, construction and science of [[aircraft]] and [[spacecraft]]. It is broken into two major and overlapping branches: [[Aeronautics\|aeronautical]] engineering and [[Astronautics\|astronautical]] engineering. The former deals with craft that stay within [[Earth]]'s [[atmosphere]], and the latter deals with craft that operate outside of Earth's atmosphere.

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:19, 15 December 2009
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	== See also ==		== See also ==
	~~{{WVD}}~~
	* [[List of aerospace engineering topics]]		* [[List of aerospace engineering topics]]
	* [[List of aerospace engineers]]		* [[List of aerospace engineers]]