With aerospace engineering, the sky is not the limit!
Aerospace engineering is the design, construction, and maintenance of aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, and weapons systems.
Aerospace engineering is behind many of the inventions that have enabled space exploration. Without aerospace engineering, we wouldn’t have planes, rockets, or satellites! Aerospace engineering has been around for as long as humans have desired to fly.
Aerospace engineers don’t just work with rockets – they’re also responsible for planes and other aircraft down on earth!
Unfortunately, like many STEM fields, aerospace engineering has a diversity and inclusion problem. 76.5% of aerospace engineers are white (including 7% of white Hispanic engineers) and only about 15% are women! As a broad engineering field with many opportunities for upward mobility, we should be working to support diversity and inclusion initiatives that will help advance society.
Some common skills:
- strong mathematical, analytical and problem solving skills
- creativity and innovative thinking
- attention to detail
- a strong awareness of safety issues
- communication skills
- project and time management skills
- the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
Some iconic aerospace engineers are Dr. Anita Sengupta, Dr. Jeanette Epps, and Dr. Kalpana Chawla.
