AERONAUTICS & ASTRONAUTICS

AEROSPACE ENGINEERS USE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF MATH AND SCIENCE FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLY THOSE SKILLS TO DESIGN, BUILD, AND TEST VEHICLES THAT FLY.

WHAT DO AEROSPACE ENGINEERS DO?

Aerospace engineers apply math and science fundamentals to design, build and test vehicles that fly. Aeronautics applies to vehicles that fly within the Earth’s atmosphere, for example, airplanes and helicopters. Astronautics focuses on vehicles that fly outside of the Earth’s atmosphere, for example, space shuttles, satellites and more. The field of aeronautics and astronautics also goes beyond flight, such as in the study of aerodynamics in automobiles UW A&A and water vehicles. OPPORTUNITIES WHAT PROBLEMS ARE AEROSPACE Students can work in the ENGINEERS TRYING TO SOLVE? Kirsten Wind Tunnel, a state- of-the-art commercial testing UW A&A specializes in four main sub disciplines: controls, fluids, structures, facility for flight vehicles. and plasma science. Study abroad to France to • How do we make navigation systems on vehicles more autonomous so we learn about aviation & space can explore places far away for longer periods of time? and to attend the annual Paris Air Show. • How can we address ice formation on vehicles so it doesn’t interfere with its All of our students participate operation? in a culminating capstone • How can we shape the fuselage and wings of an aircraft so the vehicle is design project with many more fuel efficient? industry- based options • How can we deliver drugs right to the site they’re needed AND produce them in a way that people can afford to take them?

• Can we optimize this process to be more economical, environmentally friendly, and safe?

WWW.AA.UW.EDU WHERE DO A&A ALUMNI WORK?

Industry - The vast majority of students work in industry right Aerojet Rocketdyne, Alaska Airlines, Amazon after graduation. Our alumni work under a variety of job titles Prime Air, Blue Origin, The Boeing Company, including aerodynamics engineer, development engineer, design and Honeywell Aerospace, Janicki Industries, analysis engineer, engineering consultant, manufacturing engineer, Millennium Space Systems, NASA, SpaceX, propulsion engineer, stress engineer, structures engineer, systems Systima Technologies engineer and more.

Graduate School - Some of our students choose to go to graduate California Institute of Technology, Columbia school after graduation. Students pursue a master’s degree University, Northeastern University, Stanford toexplore a particular sub discipline. Others continue on to a Ph.D. University, University of Maryland, University of degree to research in a very narrow and specific aerospace topic. Michigan, University of Southern California, UW

Military Service– We are also proud of our students who choose U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. to serve in the United States military after graduation. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy

WHAT MAKES A&A SPECIAL? SENIOR CAPSTONE A&A is a small, close-knit department with a cohort model. Our students form DESIGN close relationships with each other and with their advisers, making it easy to form groups. Our small class sizes enable students to focus on community, PROJECTS solving innovative problems, and building careers.

The senior capstone project Our students are involved with is one of the most intensive, a variety of registered student memorable, and eye- organizations including DBF opening experiences in the (Design, Build, Fly) – the undergraduate program. student-led aircraft building Recent projects include: competition group and >> Retrofitting a former SARP (Society for Advanced military aircraft to be used Rocket Propulsion) – the to fight wild fires. student-led rocket building competition group. Students >> Optimizing an existing UAV are also involved in the student for conservation purposes. chapter of the AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics), a professional society for aerospace >> Exploring the complexities engineering. They are also involved with WoA (Women in Aerospace), a group of 3D printing while in created to address diversity issues and to provide outreach to young women space. wanting to explore the field. >> Designing a mini-satellite for use in exploring space. HOW CAN I LEARN MORE?

If you think A&A might be for you, we encourage you join one of the A&A affiliated registered student organizations. You can also start doing research in a lab even before placing into a major.

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@uwaeroastro UW Aeronautics & Astronautics