Definition of Aerospace:
The field of aerospace engineering focuses on creating and designing aircraft. One of the newest subfields of engineering, powered flight research started in the 19th century with the first powered flight experiments. Aeronautical engineering, which involves designing aircraft like powered lighter-than-air craft, gliders, fixed-wing airplanes and jets, autogyros, and helicopters, and astronautical engineering, which concentrates on the design and development of spacecraft, are two specialties that emerged as technology advanced.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, astronautical engineers work with the science and technology of spacecraft that fly outside Earth’s atmosphere, whereas aeronautical engineers primarily design aircraft that fly within Earth’s atmosphere (BLS).
Aerospace engineering history:
The first steerable steam-powered airship was flown by Jules Henri Giffard in 1852. The first powered airship to return to its starting point was flown by Charles Renard and Arthur Constantin Krebs in 1884. The first rigid airship was built and flown by Ferdinand von Zeppelin in 1900.
Numerous glider experiments took place throughout the 19th century, and gliders were heavily involved in early work leading to the airplane. Beginning in 1804, Sir George Cayley outlined the fundamentals of heavier-than-air flight, and in 1856, Jean-Marie Le Bris piloted the first manned glider to climb above its launch point. Le Bris accomplished this by dragging the glider along a beach with a horse.
Whats You will study in Aerospace Engineering:
The first rotary-wing aircraft, such as autogyros and helicopters, were created after fixed-wing aircraft. The concept of rotary-wing aircraft inspired many inventors to attempt vertical flight with rotating propellers. These inventions were based on principles first demonstrated in Chinese flying toys dating to 400 B.C. Many tiny models propelled by springs and rubber bands were constructed, but once again, the first real helicopter had to wait for an engine with enough power.
The designs of helicopters and autogyros improved gradually over the ensuing few decades. The autogyro, a fixed-winged type of aircraft that uses a rotor for lift and a propeller for thrust, is credited to Juan de la Cierva. His innovations in rotary design were directly responsible for the creation of the first modern helicopter, generally credited to Igor Sikorsky in 1942.
Rocketry and spacecraft engineering is the other branch of aerospace engineering. The most well-known early adopters in this field were Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, who is regarded as the Russian father of rocketry, Werner von Braun, who created the first ballistic missile and later served as the first director of NASA’s Marshall Flight Center, and Robert Goddard, who built and successfully launched the first liquid-fueled rocket.
Many astronauts were also aerospace engineers, including Neil Armstrong, the first man to set foot on the moon, and Kalpana Chawla, the first astronaut of Indian descent who perished in the Columbia space shuttle disaster. I am, and always will be, a white socks, pocket protector nerdy engineer, as Armstrong himself once stated.
Best Aerospace Engineering Schools in South Carolina
Do you want to use your knowledge of science, math, and mechanics in a brand-new way? Think about studying aerospace engineering in South Carolina. The University of South Carolina is the only college in this state that offers an aerospace engineering degree. With over 34,000 students, USC students have plenty of opportunities to make new friends. Both a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree program in aerospace engineering are offered by USC. Although rates differ for residents and non-residents, the average cost of tuition is about $19,000 per year.
Getting your degree is the first step toward a successful and lengthy career in aerospace engineering. In South Carolina, you must possess at least a Bachelor’s degree to work as an engineer. Given that you must complete 120 credits of engineering and general education coursework, this will take at least four years to complete.
Since you need to have a very specific set of skills by the time you graduate from aerospace engineering, the curriculum is fairly strict. You must be able to work in the areas of aerospace engineering that involve testing, research, and development. By enrolling in classes like Aerospace Systems, Aerospace Propulsion, Incompressible Flow, and Aerospace Dynamical Systems, you can fulfill these requirements.
Here is a well observed search list of the best 20 aerospace engineering schools and universities in south Carolina that will help you in the selection for your future school of Aerospace engineering near your place:
Best Aerospace Engineering Schools in South Carolina
| Institution | Category | Location | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA) Myrtle Beach Campus - School for Aviation Maintenance | Aerospace company | 1038 Shine Ave | https://pia.edu/ |
| UofSC College of Engineering and Computing | Engineering school | 301 Main St | http://cec.sc.edu/ |
| McNAIR Aerospace Center | Research institute | 1000 Catawba St Suite 120 | http://www.sc.edu/about/centers_institutes/mcnair/index.php |
| Clemson College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences | University department | Riggs Hall | https://www.clemson.edu/cecas/index.html |
| University of South Carolina | Public university | Venerable school with a scenic campus | https://sc.edu/ |
| The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UofSC | University | 300 Main St | http://ce.sc.edu/ |
| College of Charleston | University | 66 George St | https://cofc.edu/ |
| School of Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering - College of Charleston | University department | 202 Calhoun St | http://ssm.cofc.edu/ |
| Clemson University Department of Mechanical Engineering | University department | Fluor Daniel Engineering Innovation Building | http://www.clemson.edu/cecas/departments/me/ |
| Trident Technical College | Community college | 7000 Rivers Ave | http://www.tridenttech.edu/ |
| Pickens County Career & Technology Center | High school | 990 Chastain Rd | http://ctc.pickens.k12.sc.us/ |
| Royal Live Oaks Academy of the Arts and Sciences | Charter school | 400 John Smith Rd | http://www.rloacs.org/ |
| Wingate University Charlotte | Graduate school | 11430 N Community House Rd #150 | |
| Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering | University department | · | http://www.mae.ncsu.edu/ |
| Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Information Technology | College | C.O.B.A. Dr | http://ceit.georgiasouthern.edu/ |
| The University of Georgia College of Engineering | University department | 597 D. W. Brooks Drive | http://www.engineering.uga.edu/ |
| Duke University Pratt School of Engineering | Engineering school | 305 Teer Engineering Building Box 90271 | https://pratt.duke.edu/ |
| East Carolina University College of Engineering & Technology | University | Science and Technology Bldg | https://cet.ecu.edu/ |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach | University | 1 Aerospace Blvd | https://daytonabeach.erau.edu/ |
| North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University | University | 1601 E Market St | http://www.ncat.edu/ |
Aerospace engineer work:
According to the BLS, aerospace engineers design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. These engineers also put prototypes through testing to make sure they work as intended. Additionally, these specialists create the engines, airframes, wings, landing gear, control systems, and instrumentation for this craft. Engineers may also carry out or create the specifications for destructive and nondestructive testing of an aircraft or component to determine its strength, usability, dependability, and long-term durability.
Here are a few noteworthy recent advancements in aerospace engineering:
- Many aerospace developments are finding their way into automobile technology, such as hydrogen fuel cells and thermoelectric generators, which use oxygen and hydrogen gas to produce useful electricity, heat, and water.
- An algorithm has been created by a team of engineers that can translate brainwaves into flight commands. The group wants to make it possible to fly with your mind in control.
In order to study “cool-burning” flames, researchers are intentionally starting fires on the International Space Station. This research could result in more environmentally friendly, more effective car engines.
What will be the aerospace future?
Today’s aerospace engineers still work with the basic concepts of aerodynamics, and must also have a working knowledge of aircraft power plants such as piston engines, turboprops, and jets, the BLS said.
Astronautical engineers must also understand additional concepts, such as spacecraft propulsion systems, which include solid- and liquid-fuel rockets, along with ion drives. Manned missions require life support systems to provide air, food, water, temperature control, and waste handling, so spaceflight engineers must also be familiar with these concepts.
Aerospace engineers’ employment was expected to increase by 7% between 2012 and 2022, a slower rate than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS. But according to the BLS, “there should be plenty of opportunities for highly qualified applicants, particularly those who have kept up with the latest technological developments.” “A job seeker should have an advantage over the competition if they have good grades from a highly regarded institution.”
