Aerospace Engineers “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” These eminent words uttered by former NASA Astronaut Neil Armstrong when he disturbed the once untouched surface of the moon were truly an incredible gift to history. Journeying to the outer reaches of our Solar System was always a goal that man strived to accomplish, but in order to fulfill these dreams they needed the technology to do so. Aerospace engineers were the among the first to build the air and spacecrafts that we know of today and have helped us reach lengths that man did not think would be possible. I have been a huge fan of space and science for as long as I can remember. There was something so captivating about pioneering new technology …show more content…
to reach farther out into our forever expanding universe. It would be really cool to build and work on spacecrafts such as rockets and satellites. In fact, none of the air or space flight today would be possible without the work of aerospace engineers designing and creating these crafts to fly in and out of the atmosphere. The definition for an aerospace engineer is as follows, “This branch of engineers deal with the design, development, testing, and production of aircraft and related systems and of spacecraft, rocket-propulsion systems,and other equipment operating beyond earth’s atmosphere.” This definition clearly shows how the engineers do a lot of the developing and testing of these crafts. I have a basic understanding of what aerospace engineers do but I am not sure how they do it or who they do it for. If I were to ask more specific questions regarding the work, I want to ask how many hours do you work per week?, Will I be working a lot of overtime?, What is the average time it takes to complete a project?, Does being an aerospace engineer require more desk work or hands-on work?, etc. These more specific questions would help me get a look at what I can expect when I enter the workforce as an aerospace engineer. Now, to receive a degree in aerospace engineering you must attend a ABET or Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology school.
This includes a wide range of colleges across the country. Some examples of big colleges that have this program are University of Michigan, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), etc. Personally, since I am going into aerospace engineering next fall, I am attending Western Michigan University. Western isa a bit smaller of a school but will still teach me the same things I would learn at a bigger university and I am saving on tuition because it is cheaper to go there rather than more places. I went on to the Bureau of Labor Statistic and found multiple interesting articles that gave me a lot of knowledge about aerospace engineers and what they do. I was really surprised to find that there are nearly 70,000 people employed as aerospace engineers and I thought that most of them would either work at Boeing, NASA, or SpaceX as those are the dominant three air and space companies/administrations, but that turned out not the be the case at all. There are a lot of smaller companies that employ aerospace engineers and have them build planes. What I was also really surprised to find was that some aerospace engineers may not even work on planes. For example, since most of the engineers deal with aerodynamics, F1 racers will have the engineers look at the build of the racecar and how to improve the way air flows around it so that it can go even faster. Moving on from what they do to what they use, I also learned that there is a lot of physics involved in engineering. I personally thought that it would just be more basic maths like algebra, calculus, trigonometry, and geometry. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy physics but I thought it would be more algebra and geometry based. As I was looking through the campus’s website I stumbled across a page that talked all about how there are tutors that can help with math and physics that are
specifically designed for aerospace engineering which I thought was really cool. I know for a fact that I’m going to need help when I first begin my classes so I will most likely be attending the lab for extra help. Speaking of classes, I was researching the different ones that I am going to have to take next fall and a few of them seemed quite interesting. A couple of them and what they are is Orbital Mechanics which deals with technology involving spacecraft that’s orbiting earth, Aerodynamics which deals with how air affects aviation flight, and the one I found most interesting which was Spacecraft design on a budget. I really found this course intriguing because when people think of spacecrafts and space travel, most people would arrive at the conclusion that it is millions of dollars to build one spacecraft, btu as this course suggests, that may not always be the case and you can make do with what you have; I’m really excited to take this class. Now, you should never pick your career based on the money. You should always do something that you are passionate about and that you will enjoy for most of your days. But the money is always nice to have and I was not disappointed with the average salary for an aerospace engineer. When I searched the Bureau of Labor Statistics it said that the average salary for an aerospace engineer is around $113,000 which in today’s standards is a very good number or at least I would like to think so. Again, I would be happy with any amount of money as long as I enjoy my years working and I am not miserable every day that I have to go to my job. Another statistic from the BLS is that aerospace engineering is expected to grow by 6% in the next 8 years or so which adds roughly 4,200 more people to this branch of engineering which is fantastic because it means that more people are striving to improve the way we travel throughout the world and outside of it. As I was researching different things that aerospace engineers do I stumbled across a page that talked about how long that you can expect to work as an aerospace engineer. I was surprised to find that most aerospace engineers work overtime for multiple days on end to oversee major projects that are currently being worked on. I think that I would be able to overlook this and still be able to enjoy my job. Also, I would still get paid for my overtime work so it would not be that bad. I also read in that same article that aerospace engineers nowadays spend a lot of their work time at computers which I found pretty shocking. I did not think that engineers would spend that much time on the computer but after thinking about it fro a little, it actually makes sense because a lot of programs, like CAD, for example are necessary to help build blueprints and prototypes for different kinds of air technology. The last thing I want to talk about is more requirements to be an aerospace engineer, not school requirements, but more along the lines of skill requirements. For example, aerospace engineers must be good problem solvers and critical thinkers. I think that I fit these requirements very well and I will make a good aerospace engineer in the years to come. All in all, I am very excited to begin the process of becoming an aerospace engineer. This is something that I am passionate about and I think that I will enjoy for my years to come. Once I eventually earn my degree, the goal would be to work for NASA as my main passion is to build and design these spacecrafts that will be able to carry man throughout deep space. But, if NASA were to not work out and I wasn’t able to get a job, I would hope to work at SpaceX, which is a private space company that also employs aerospace engineers. Again, if neither of these two space companies were to give me a job, it would still be really cool to work in any sector of engineering even if it is not on spacecrafts. Boeing, along with multiple other smaller aviation companies still employ thousands of engineers. Once I do find a job though, I could expect a lot of days to go similar to this: I would start by working on the computer, using programs like CAD and different computer softwares to help give a rough 3D model of the project that I am currently working on, then once we finish the model and everything is in place, we begin the fun part which would actually be starting to build the spacecraft. This process would basically repeat itself for multiple weeks until the project was complete. Sure, some projects will take longer or shorter than others but that is the main stuff I will be doing throughout my time as an aerospace engineer. I was actually surprised as to how much time I am actually going to spend on the computer. Over the next 4 years of my life, I will study and try to make the best of what I can with my aerospace engineering degree, I think that I will make a good aerospace engineer and hopefully will work for NASA one day .
America went to the moon in the 1960’s, during a time of war, a time that was so far behind in technology compared to now, but yet human beings went to the moon . Human beings are capable of many wonderful things and their potential has no limits, except for the limits that are placed by government and society. Neil deGrasse Tyson attempted to liberate NASA from the limits of low funding by giving a speech to the U.S Senate. Tyson used emotion and logical thinking to make the complexity of NASA as relatable to the audience as possible, and by doing so he wanted to convey to them how important NASA is in our society today and the future of the human kind.
Up to now, space entry has been one of America’s greatest accomplishments. As Neil Armstrong once said, it was “one small step for man, one giant step for mankind” (Anastasio 2). Space entry has made man capable of almost
INTRODUCTION Attention-getter: “Space travel benefits us here on Earth. And we ain’t stopped yet. There’s more exploration to come.” (Nichelle Nichols from Star Trek) Credibility: Throughout our childhood as we study space, solar systems, planets we all come to a point of having the dream of exploring the space or learn more about it in the future.
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” was stated by Neil Armstrong once a national goal was accomplished. Landing successfully on the moon was a major goal for astronauts of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin were honored to be the very first of mankind to step foot on the moon, and allowed America to set future goals for outer-space journeys. With the assigned Apollo mission, America was granted much needed hope. Astronauts of NASA in the Apollo Program accomplished John F. Kennedy’s goal of placing the first man on the moon safely for the United States.
All you need to know about the role physics plays in the flight of an aircraft.
It is within man’s blood and nature to explore, and space is our next New World. Man’s first achievement in space travel was the launch of the Sputnik on October 4, 1957. For the next decades, space travel was roaring like a rocket, fueled by man’s desire to explore, man’s desire for knowledge, and man’s desire to beat his enemies. However, these impulses have died out as the well of government funding has been diverted to wars and debts, and the interest of the American people has been diverted to wars and debts. Amidst all these issues it is debated as to whether or not space travel is worth the money and the attention of scientists, particularly since humanity faces so many issues on earth currently. However, because of the past inventions, current services, and future benefits, space travel is indeed worth the money and attention of governments and people. It is within our hands to control man’s advancement, and space travel is the next venue to do so.
Carl Sagan once said “every planetary civilization will be endangered by impacts from space, every surviving civilization is obliged to become spacefaring—not because of exploratory or romantic zeal, but for the most practical reason imaginable: staying alive. If our long-term survival is at stake, we have a basic responsibility to our species to venture to other worlds.” The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, is executing Sagan’s words every day. President Dwight D. Eisenhower created NASA in 1958 with the purpose of peaceful rather than military space exploration and research to contribute to society. Just 11 years after the creation, NASA put Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon, the first humans to accomplish this feat.
My passion for the fascinating wolrd of science literally can not be put into words. Since receiving my first home science kit at five years of age the way things work and why has always been at the forefront of my mind. During my early years I would find great delight in examining anything I could fit under the lens of my telescope. I will never forget my first look at the intricate detail of a human hair.
Since the beginning of time, mankind has sought after learning about and exploring the universe. This yearning drove us to achieve such great things as the journey to the moon and the discovery of water on mars. Nowadays, several people argue as to whether or not space exploration is worth the effort. I believe that it is humanity’s instinctual nature to pursue a better understanding of ourselves, and our universe. Further understanding of our universe will lead to the discovery of new technologies and ways to secure humanity’s survivability. As such, this essay will argue that space exploration is a necessity to our kind and that NASA should be progressively more financed.
Some colleges offer a degree in aerospace engineering; others offer a more generalized engineering degree with some coursework in aerospace engineering. These courses might include aerospace guidance systems, extreme-altitude material science, and the physics of high-altitude radiation. Internships, summer jobs, and any experience in the field are helpful, as entry into this industry is highly competitive. Many aspirants may need to relocate to California, Washington State, or Texas, where the majority of defense industry aerospace work is done, to work for companies such as NASA, Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Two years into their job an aerospace engineer can be planning on being Junior members of research staff are swamped with work, both in the lab and in offices, crunching data and organizing research.
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” It was July 20 1969, the day that reshaped our nation and gave us unparalleled dreams for the future. The impact of the day goes far beyond our pride and nationalism; that day would change space exploration and technology forever. Just like a shooting star, that day would give us a glimpse of hope. A chance to see an event so breathtaking and defying, it would be man’s greatest accomplishment in the 20th century. As millions of people watched from their TV sets, a rush of euphoria came over the nation as Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the surface of the moon. It was the first time in the history of mankind that we would step on the surface of another celestial body. John F. Kennedy dared us to dream, he inspired the nation to reach for the moon, to set ourselves apart from the rest of the world. The Space Race was symbolic of many things. Our future as the technically dominate nation was secured in place; just as secure as Old Glory would be, when she was driven down into the soil of the moon. We not only reached the moon, we conquered it as a nation; united.
In the past 100 years, we have made much advancement in all areas of society. The way people live has changed drastically just in the past century. Technology in particular has advanced more in these last 100 years then all previous time combined. For example, because of the research done by many innovative and dedicated individuals such as the Wright Brothers who were the first to sustain flight in a powered airplane, we are able to fly all over the world in a matter of hours in jet propelled pressurized aircraft. One hundred years ago, the thought of man flying in a machine was insane. The Wright Brothers helped to realize the dream of manned flight. Many years later, after the idea of manned flight becoming a reality, space exploration was the next step. In 1969, many people did not believe what happened. Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon. They posted an American flag, explored, collected space rocks and came back home. Many Americans did not believe that the technology existed to go that far. Today, several missions a year are launched using manned space shuttles that can be flown back to earth like gliders and reused on future space missions.
The modern day space environment is no longer a mystery to humans. Yuri Gagarin of Russia was the first person to experience space adventure in 1961. Since then, technological advances have enabled space exploration, with new discoveries being made from time to time. Scientists have significantly contributed to the development of space tourism. Noteworthy inventions by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) have transformed human life through increasing accessibility to space. The agency has made it possible for astronauts to go to the moon and also to walk around planet Mars with robotic automobiles. The invention of the tri-axis control design has had a significant influence on modern space explorations, helping astronauts to effectively focus their satellites on the target. This has been important in increasing efficiency and precision in astronomical discoveries (Birchard, 2003).
Did you know that without space exploration we wouldn’t have a lot of our knowledge or technology? I always wanted to help make a rocket fly one day, or be apart of space a corporation.
Space has always been a pivotal and utmost important subject for many years. In the past, scientists have made monumental advances in this field such as sending people into orbit and landing a man on the moon. Of course, this has only barely been explored and we still have a lot more to see of the ever-vast outer space. One of the most significant topics of all of science has only been touched and there’s still more to come.