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Engineers
are people who make things work. The work and ideas
of engineers make achievements possible. They put
power and materials to work. Engineers have moved
America into skyscrapers, high-speed cars, jets, and
space vehicles. They make life interesting, comfortable,
and fun. Computers, television, and satellites, all
depend on engineers. Engineers will design the spacecraft,
space stations, and robots of the 21st century.
If you are interested in a science,
engineering or technology career you can contact people
working in these fields to learn more about what they
do. Your teachers and guidance counselors can help
to arrange this for you. Visit some of the web sites
below to learn about professional organizations you
can contact for more information.
What types
of engineers are there?
Analytical
engineers use their knowledge of engineering to
analyze data and make conclusions. For example, by
using their understanding of aerodynamics and structures,
engineers can figure out what makes an airplane or
a spacecraft fly the way it does and how to make that
airplane or spacecraft safer and stronger. Engineers
often specialize in a particular field (such as thermodynamics,
aerodynamics, or structures) and work with other experts
in teams to solve a problem together.
Design
Engineers use some of their most creative skills
when they determine the size, shape, structure, arrangement,
and function of components of vehicles that meet the
specifications set by the customer and safety or cost
constraints. They also need to keep in mind how the
aerodynamics, power requirements and weight will affect
overall design.
Materials
and processes engineers turn a big part of their
focus in the design of airplanes and spacecraft to
make them weigh as little as possible. Materials engineers
study materials, both conventional and composite,
for use in airplane structures. Some areas of concern
are the strength and rigidity of a material, its availability,
its ease of processing, and its resistance to temperature
variables and stress.
Systems
engineers look at the big picture since a vehicle
design is a combination of smaller subsystems. They
use their overall knowledge of engineering to determine
whether all the systems interface with each other
correctly. Often they need to check back with the
customer to make sure the design being developed is
on the right track and meeting specifications.
Software
engineers design and test the software that controls
and instructs the computers that control most systems.
They also develop the computer-simulation and data-collecting
software used in airplane design.
Manufacturing
engineers work closely with design engineers to
ensure that a design can be manufactured quickly and
easily. They plan the tooling, construction, and assembly
of vehicle components and determine whether their
components still meet necessary requirements throughout
the process.
Flight
research engineers analyze data that comes back
from research flights to figure out how well a design
performed on an actual flight. From their observations,
they can suggest what might need to be changed in
future similar designs. They also are involved in
the research test flight planning and the preparation
of final flight research reports.
Field service engineers become
vital once a vehicle is manufactured for general use.
They provide maintenance and service information
to make sure the product is used safely and efficiently.
If there's a problem that needs to be resolved with
a vehicle's design, field service engineers contact
the manufacturing and design engineers.
So...Who
Are Technicians?
Technicians
work closely with scientists and engineers to support
research. Their skills are used to operate wind tunnels,
work in laboratories, construct test equipment, and
build models.
So...Who
Are Scientists?
Scientists
are knowledge seekers, men and women who are always
searching out why things happen. They are inquisitive.
This means they are always questioning. They possess
a sense of wonder. Nature, Earth, and the universe
are what fascinate scientists. The scientist questions,
seeks answers, and expands knowledge.
Careers
in Aerospace
NASA
Profiles describes different careers available
to you in spaceflight.
Below is
a list of the many types of engineers and scientists
who work in aerospace-related fields. For your
mission you will need to choose one that may be of
interest to you and do some research about that field! |
