Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: JennyGracie on 19/02/2019 16:53:24
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We got this question from school student Kuzey,
What can I do in my free time to become a Aerospace Engineer?
So can anyone give some advice?
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Hard to make recommendations without knowing more about where you are in your schooling, and where you could stand to improve.
Engineers, especially aerospace engineers, need to be very comfortable with mathematics. I recommend learning calculus and differential equations--how ever much you know about them now, learn more, practice more, and then apply them to physics/engineering type problems: related rates, optimizations, orbital mechanics, etc.
There are plenty of resources to help you, from textbooks to websites and youtube videos. With enough ambition, time, and effort, you can go from ignorant to expert (note that "ignorant" is not meant to be derogatory, it just means knowing nothing--it is our default state).
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Depending on whether you prefer the "aero" or the "space" part, you could build and fly model aeroplanes or rockets (or both).
- Try a remote-controlled drone, and learn how to program it.
- Learn software, and use it to control electrical and mechanical systems.
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Join a club that builds things that move. Almost anything: robots, model planes, cars - even radiocontrolled sailboats introduce you to the problems of getting from A to B when you don't have instantaneous control of all the forces on your vehicle.
Study maths and physics as tools of your future trade rather than exams to pass, so you get to enjoy analysing movement and most particularly heat flow: one of the biggest problems of space engineering is getting rid of the heat from electrical systems and living things.
Learn to fly. In most countries you can fly a sailplane solo before you can drive a car, and every minute spent in the club hangar, learning the jargon and helping people fix things, puts you a minute ahead of other candidates for an apprenticeship or degree course and helps you decide what part of the business attracts you.
Right now there is an acute and worldwide shortage of light aviation engineers (electronics, airframes and powerplant) and air traffic controllers. Designing the next generation of rockets is all very interesting, but keeping the present stuff moving is essential.
You won't be bored!
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We got this question from school student Kuzey,
What can I do in my free time to become a Aerospace Engineer?
So can anyone give some advice?
I doubt it can be done in your free time unless you take online degree courses toward a BS in Aerospace engineering. It will be difficult to do any way you try it since its a tough subject. But if you're intelligent it will make it easier.