What is Aerospace?
Part of the Aerospace: From Ground to Sky series | Article #1
Isn’t “aerospace” a fancy word? Well, what does it actually mean..?
Different Aspects of Aerospace
The word “aerospace” generally refers to the branch of technology and industry involved with aviation (flying) and space flight.
It’s usually paired with other words to specify different aspects of the field.
Here are some common phrases that contain “aerospace”:
Aerospace Engineering: The engineering branch focused on designing, creating, and improving aircraft and spacecraft.
Aerospace Industry: The part of the economy that involves making and using aircraft and spacecraft, including companies like SpaceX, etc.
Aerospace Technology: The tools and processes used in the making of aircraft and spacecraft. For example, a space shuttle is considered aerospace technology.
The main focus of this series will be on aerospace engineering and the science behind some major aerospace technologies.
The Two Branches
Aerospace engineering is a broad field that contains two major branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering.
Aeronautical engineering deals with designing and developing aircraft that operate within Earth’s atmosphere (the sky). This includes airplanes, helicopters, drones, and even missiles.
Astronautical engineering, on the other hand, is focused on spacecraft and technologies that work beyond Earth’s atmosphere and in space.
This branch is what people commonly think of when they hear the word aerospace.
Astronautical engineers design and develop rockets, satellites, space probes, space stations, and even extra-terrestrial rovers.
Why is Aerospace Engineering Important?
Imagine trying to live without GPS; navigating from place to place would be so difficult.
Or not knowing whether it’s going to rain tomorrow.
GPS and weather prediction technology are just two of the countless benefits provided by aerospace engineering.
The most obvious benefit is airplanes! Aerospace doesn’t just include spacecraft and satellites; it also includes airplanes and even military jets for defense.
Think about how quickly we can travel across the globe thanks to modern aircraft, connecting people and cultures like never before.
We’ve also learned a lot about our solar system and beyond.
So much so that Galileo would be shocked by how much we’ve discovered and the advancements in space technology.
The Voyager 1 spacecraft, launched by NASA on September 5, 1977, has been traveling through space for over four decades!
As of now, it is more than 22 billion kilometers away from Earth.
A big part of these achievements comes from not just the intelligence of these scientists and engineers, but also their unwavering curiosity.
Curiosity is one of humankind's most powerful qualities
It has led humanity to where it is now.
All the scientific developments, technological advancements, and solutions to problems come from curious, hardworking, and dedicated minds.
Curiosity is what drives exploration, and exploration is what will take aerospace engineering to new heights.
So stay curious
