So you want to be an aerospace engineer..

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So you want to be an aerospace engineer..

• Lakshmi Sankar
• lsankar_at_ae.gatech.edu
• 404-894-3014
• Daurette Joseph
• daurette.joseph_at_ae.gatech.edu
• 404-385-1595

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Some Useful Web Sites and Contacts

• Our School www.ae.gatech.edu
• This presentation www.ae.gatech.edu/lsankar/FASE
  T
• AE Academic Office
• Phone [phone]
• Daurette Joseph daurette.joseph_at_ae.gatech.edu
• Academic Advisor, 404-385-1595
• Revonda Mullis rmullis_at_ae.gatech.edu
• Lakshmi Sankar lsankar_at_ae.gatech.edu

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Overview

• What do aerospace engineers do?
• Where do they work?
• How much do they make? (I want a Corvette when I
  grow up..)
• What are the classes will I take?
• Will I get to do research?
• Do you have a honors program?
• What are the Study Abroad Opportunities?

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What do aerospace engineers do?

• We design, build, or analyze systems and
  components.
• Aircraft, helicopters, engines, satellites,
  rockets, unmanned vehicles, etc.
• We work in related areas.
• Automotive, power generation, bio-engineering,
  wind energy, environmental engineering, etc.
• We serve mankind by making improvements to the
  state of the art in aerospace vehicles
• Cheaper, quieter, faster, lighter,
  environmentally friendly applications.

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We make improvements to all theParts of an
Airplane

• Low drag airfoils
• Quieter, fuel-efficient propellers or jet engines
• Composites and advanced aluminum alloy materials
  that are strong and light
• Fly by wire controls that reduce pilots work
  load, and lead to a safe and enjoyable flight.

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We make improvements to rockets and space
vehicles

• High energy, high density fuels
• Computers and software for guidance and control
  of rockets
• Optimum trajectories from earth to Mars and other
  places, that take the least amount of energy or
  time.

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We make improvements to engines

• Fans that produce a lot of thrust, but require
  less power
• Compressors that increase the pressure with the
  least amount of power expenditure
• Turbines that extract the maximum amount of
  energy from the hot gases
• Nozzles that produce thrust, without excessive
  noise
• Combustors that burn fuel efficiently, without
  pollution such as Carbon Monoxide or Nitrous Oxide

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Where do aerospace engineers work?

• Aircraft manufacturers (Lockheed, Boeing, Airbus,
  Cessna, Gulfstream, and others)
• Engine Manufacturers (GE, Pratt Whitney, Rolls
  Royce, Turbomeca, ..)
• Helicopter Manufacturers (Bell, Boeing, Sikorsky,
  Robinson..)
• NASA Research Centers (Langley, Ames, Glenn,
  Johnson)
• Power Systems (GE, Pratt Whitney, Regional
  Power Companies)
• Airlines Industries (Delta, United, American, ..)
• Government Agencies and Labs (Air Force Labs,
  Navy labs, DARPA, Department of Energy)
• Hundreds of small businesses and suppliers that
  cater to the needs of the aerospace industries
  and the government.

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How much do they make?I want a Corvette..

• Average starting salary in 2001
• bachelor's degree candidates in aerospace
  engineering received starting offers averaging
  46,918 a year
• master's degree candidates were offered 59,955
• Ph.D. candidates were offered 64,167.

• Experienced engineers 2001 Average Salary
• Federal Government 74,170
• Search and navigation equipment 71,020
• Aircraft and parts 68,230
• Guided missiles, space vehicles, and parts 65,830

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What are the courses like?

• 132 semester hours (four years)
• Plenty of opportunities for internship and co-op
  work.
• A combination of technical courses (Math,
  Physics, sciences, computer science, EE,
  materials engineering), humanities and social
  sciences (English, History, languages), and
  advanced AE courses.
• Please see our web site for more details
  www.ae.gatech.edu/undergraduate

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Do I get to do research?

• Research is an essential part of being an
  engineer.
• As engineers, we are constantly searching for
  ways to do things better, cheaper, more
  efficiently, and with less impact on the
  environment.
• We have plenty of opportunities in our program
  (10 hours of electives) you may use to satisfy
  your creative urges.
• Here are some examples..

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Design, build, and fly your own airplane..

• Our students compete nationally against other
  universities.
• They design, build, and fly a vehicle that will
  meet the specifications.
• They develop team skills, oral and written
  communication skills, and a strong work ethic.

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Fly on the Vomit Comet..

• Design experiments to study how gravity affects
  materials, fire, manufacturing processes, or
  human tissues.
• Test your experiment on a specially equipped
  airplane.
• Try not to P..ke

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Work on Dual Use Applications

• Design of Variable Pitch Composite Spoiler
• X-29 elastically tailored composite wings

• Applied to Formula I race cars

• Design Engineer LMACo

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Work on Space Based Economy
Self-sustaining Economy
Support/Service Economy
Space Habitats
Lunar Manufacturing
Lunar Mining
Time
Lunar Power
Lunar Launcher
Lunar Resources
Orbit transfer vehicles
GEO Station
Maintenance
Space Station
Robotics
Repair
Fuel
Com-sats
Research
Exploration
Military
GPS
Sensing
Earth Launch
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AE Honors Program

• This program was implemented in the Fall of 2002.
• Goal
• provide AE undergraduates who have an interest in
  graduate studies and research with opportunities
  that will prepare them to excel academically and
  in research.
• Outcomes
• research experience
• chance to explore specialties
• joint B.S./M.S. AE program

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Student Benefits

• Automatically admitted to AE MS program after
  completion of BS
• streamlined application, no GRE requirement
• Count up to 6 hours of appropriate courses to
  both BS and MS degrees
• able to complete MS degree 9-12 months after
  finishing BS degree
• 3 semesters of UG research experience
• Preference for Undergraduate AE Research
  Fellowships

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Eligibility

• Participation is by invitation.
• Invitation is Issued after the stduent has
  completed 48 credit hours (with lt30 transfer
  hours)
• The student is expected to maintain a GPA of 3.5
  or above.

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Requirements

• Research Courses
• Honors program candidates complete 3 semesters of
  undergraduate research (4698 or 4699)
• Presentations
• deliver at least one presentation on research
  work before completing BS
• at national conference, student conference, or
  seminar (AE Brown Bag Lunch series)

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Advising

• Research Supervisor
• student chooses faculty research supervisor (with
  mutual consent of faculty member)
• able to change research supervisor during program
• Academic Advisor
• participants can be reassigned to academic
  advisor in students area of research interest
  (e.g., research supervisor)

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International/Study Abroad Options

• The evolution of technology (e.g. high-speed
  aircraft) is bringing the world to our footsteps.
• Tomorrows aerospace endeavors will require
  collaboration among nations, and international
  business partners.
• US citizens should be trained to meet the
  changing global environment.
• They should be aware of international
  trade/business practices, corporate laws and
  regulations, and environmental issues.
• Fluency in a foreign language is a business
  requirement, not a luxury.
• We offer a variety of study abroad programs.
• Beginning in the fall of 2005, we plan to offer a
  new BSAE (International Option) program.

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Elements of the Bachelor of Science
(International Option) Programhttp//www.oie.gate
ch.edu/internationalplan.html

• Two or more years of college level study in a
  foreign language.
• Three or more courses in a global or comparative
  international studies (e.g. economics, law,
  politics).
• Two or more terms of residential foreign
  experience, of which one must be a full term
  experience (15 weeks).
• The second term may involve study, internship, or
  work.
• Capstone design experience (or a senior elective)
  must incorporate issues relevant to the
  discipline, from an international perspective.
• Student receives an international designation on
  the transcript and diploma.

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AE Program Elective Hours Easily Meet These
Requirements

• 6 hours of humanities may be used to take
  language courses
• 6 hours of social science electives
• 3 hours of science electives
• 10 hours of free electives.
• These 25 hours make up approximately 20 of our
  total program hours (132).

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Third Year Option 1

• Option 2 is to work in an international setting
  (internship), and complete the third year fall
  classes during the previous summer.

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Attributes of a Successful Aerospace Engineer

• Do you enjoy math and science?Do you have an
  inquisitive and searching mind?Are you
  interested in knowing what makes things work?Do
  you like to solve problems and puzzles?Do you
  like to create things?Do you enjoy learning?Do
  you enjoy working with computers?Do you like to
  build things?Are you prepared to study hard and
  do homework?Do you achieve good grades?

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Concluding Remarks

• Aerospace engineering is an interesting field.
• You will never have a dull day in your life.
• It does take a lot of hard work and dedication to
  be successful.
• We offer
• Faculty advising/mentorship
• Undergraduate Research and Design/Build/Fly
  Opportunities that fit into your 132 hour
  curriculum
• Study Abroad and BSAE (International Option)
  Opportunities
• Co-Op and Internship Opportunities
• A honors program leading to a fast-track BS/ME
  dual-degree
• We hope you will consider our program, when the
  time comes to selecting a college and a major.

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Contact Information

• Admissions
• http//www.admission.gatech.edu/
• School of AE
• www.ae.gatech.edu/undergraduate
• Research
• NASA Reduced Gravity Student Flight Program
  http//www.ae.gatech.edu/research/windtunnel/aclev
  /aclhome.htmlAcoustic control of fluid in
  microgravity http//www.ae.gatech.edu/gravity/
  Aerial Robotics competition http//controls.ae.
  gatech.edu/gtar/Space System Design and student
  design competitions http//www.ssdl.gatech.edu/
  Aerospace System Design Lab student design
  competitions http//www.asdl.gatech.edu/