What more challenging area of engineering is there, than the one started by the
Wright brothers!!
India's former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was an aeronautical engineer for
Indian Missile Program. He was very successful there and was the leader of the
program that led to the successful development of the Agni and Prithvi
missiles. Niel Alden Armstrong, who became the first man to walk on moon on
July 20, 1969 is a masters degree holder in Aerospace from university of
Southern California. Theodre Van Karman, the worlds foremost aerodynamics
scientist, who is recognized as the father of modern aerospace science, is the
principal founder of NASA’s Jet propulsion Laboratary in California. Kalpana
Chawla, India’s astronaut is an aeronautical engineering graduate.
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In Aerospace engineering, state of
the art technologies are used to design, construct and operate vehicles that
are used above the earth’s surface. The vehicles would range from aircrafts to
helicopters to space crafts. These vehicles operate in very hostile
environments where very high emphasis has to be given to weight, high
efficiency and reliability. These technologies not only help the current space
programs but also will facilitate the next generation ground transport such as
high speed trains, automated motor vehicles and over water transportations.
An aerospace engineer studies areas like aerodynamics, propulsion, and dynamics
of control of very fast moving objects. The engineer also studies design of
flight vehicles. A strong back ground in mathematics and physics is required to
pursue the disciple and extensive use of computer and programming skill is a
necessity.
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An aerospace engineer studies and
deals with areas which has very fancy and reasonably difficult sounding
disciples like:
Astrodynamics – This is the study and development of factors that
influence the design and operation of a spacecraft or a satellite.
Propulsion – the study of internal combustion engines, jet engines etc
that will give the energy to propel the vehicles through the air.
Aircraft Structure – This deals with the design of the aircraft that
will withstand the forces during flight as well as landing and take off.
Avionics – This area deals in designs and programs of computer systems
on board and is responsible for all the future looking gadgets and meters in
the cockpit.
Aeroelasticity – This is an area that studies the way the body of the
aircraft bend or flex when subjected to natural forces.
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Other than all this, an aerospace engineer deals with areas like noise control,
risk and reliability of the aircraft etc.
No wonder the term "rocket scientist" in popular culture refers to a person of
remarkable or higher than average intelligence!!!
Students who are trained in aerospace engineering design, develop and test
aircraft and also supervise the production of these products. The engineers can
also specialize in certain area of aerospace product like commercial aircrafts,
rockets, helicopters etc.
So the next time you board a flight don’t be worried about how the pilot will
find his way through the clouds. An avionics expert has designed the controls
in the cockpit to ensure that the plane is guided in the right path. Lets us
not worry when we see the wings being flexed during landing because the wings
have been tested for aeroelasticity.
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