Aerospace Engineering

Course Outline

Aerospace engineering transforms the dream of flight into vehicles that ignite our imagination. Students explore fundamentals of flight in air and space through software simulations and hands-on experiences. Students learn how these concepts apply to a career in aerospace engineering and to other engineering fields.

Aerospace Engineering ignites students’ learning in the fundamentals of atmospheric and space flight. Aerospace Engineering is one of the specialization courses in the PLTW Engineering program. The course deepens the skills and knowledge of an engineering student within the context of atmospheric and space flight. Students explore the fundamentals of flight in air and space as they bring the concepts to life by designing and testing components related to flight such as an airfoil, propulsion system, and a rocket. They learn orbital mechanics concepts and apply these by creating models using industry-standard software. They also apply aerospace concepts to alternative applications such as a wind turbine and parachute. Students simulate a progression of operations to explore a planet, including creating a map of the terrain with a model satellite and using the map to execute a mission using an autonomous robot.

The following is a summary of the units of study that are included in the course.

The course is planned for a rigorous pace, and it is likely to contain more material than can be covered in a typical school year. Building enthusiasm while learning real world skills related to the Aerospace industry is a primary goal of the course. Material will be adapted to fit time, material and student needs.

AE Unit Summary

• Unit 1 Introduction to Aerospace

  • • 1.1 Evolution of Flight

    • 1.2 Physics of Flight

    • 1.3 Flight Planning and Navigation

• Unit 2 Aerospace Design

  • • 2.1 Materials and Structures

    • 2.2 Propulsion

    • 2.3 Flight Physiology

• Unit 3 Space

  • • 3.1 Space Travel

    • 3.2 Orbital Mechanics

• Unit 4 Alternative Applications

  • • 4.1 Alternative Applications (Aircraft Efficiency, Parachute Design)

    • 4.2 Remote Systems

    • 4.3 Aerospace Careers