Aerospace engineering deals with design, development, and manufacturing for both aircraft and spacecraft. That information alone means there is a lot to explore regarding the subject. Good thing you’re here—we’ve got some fun little-known facts about aerospace engineering that are worth learning.
Aerospace Extends From Aeronautics
Aerospace engineering derived from aeronautical engineering. The name of this branch of engineering means navigation through the air, but aerospace deals with the technology of crafts that also travel through space.
Essentially, aeronautical engineers help with designing and developing atmospheric flying vehicles, and aerospace engineers are responsible for designing and developing space vehicles. That includes rockets and satellites.
The Term First Appeared in the 1950s
The term aerospace first made an appearance in the 1950s—1958, to be exact. The word is a combination of the Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.
It was originally a compound word, but then NASA founded it and coined the phrase and its current spelling. Since then, engineers have been using the term to describe and label the complexities of the aerospace profession.
Aerospace Engineering Requires an Extensive Skill Set
As you can expect, the job requires an extensive skill set. For example, a 747 alone has 6 million moving parts that make up the plane. Engineers can’t put those parts together with just a wrench and a general understanding of mechanics.
Instead, aerospace engineers must have expert knowledge in the following areas (to name a few):
- Fluid mechanics
- Astrodynamics
- Mathematics
- Control engineering
- Electrotechnology
- Materials science
- Solid mechanics
- Avionics
- Software
- Risk and reliability
- Noise control
- Flight text
- Aeroacoustics
Aerospace Professions Are in High Demand
With all that said, the aerospace engineer profession is in very high demand. There is an expected increase in commercial travel, meaning the industry will need more engineers to accommodate the influx.
Every field of aerospace has a different salary, but engineers can expect to earn between $73,000 and $143,000. A lot of this depends on their experience and level of education. The beginning stages require a bachelor’s degree, but there are engineering courses you can take to help further your career.
There you have it: four fun little-known facts about aerospace engineering. At AC Supply, we love all things aerospace, which is why we sell model rocket launch sets. Whether for industrial or hobbyist applications, our educational models have something for everyone. For more information, browse our website or contact us today!