TranslateAerospace Engineering
Flight, spacecraft, rockets, and aerodynamics — engineering things that leave the ground.
Lessons
All lessonsOrbital Mechanics: How Satellites Stay Aloft
Explore the delicate balance between gravity and velocity that keeps satellites in orbit around our planet.
Aerodynamics and Drag: Why Shapes Matter
Explore how air resistance shapes the future of efficient flight.
Inside the Jet Engine: The Brayton Cycle
Learn how modern jet engines suck, squeeze, bang, and blow their way to power.
Materials Science: Choosing the Right Stuff
Discover why aerospace engineers choose specific metals and composites for flight.
Flight Controls: Navigating the Three Axes
How do pilots steer? Learn about pitch, roll, and yaw in the skies.
Challenges
Autonomous Atmospheric Density Profiling Mission
Design and construct a high-aspect-ratio passive aerostat capable of maintaining a stable, altitude-controlled glide path while deploying a serialized data collection payload. You must model and demonstrate a mechanism for atmospheric buoyancy compensation that accounts for thermocline-induced lift fluctuations without active propulsion. The success metric is defined by the stability of the descent rate and the accuracy of the spatial mapping of simulated thermal currents.
Design a paper airplane that stays aloft for 3 seconds
Using a single sheet of paper, design and fold a paper airplane that glides for at least 3 seconds when thrown gently. Experiment with wing shape, nose weight (a small paperclip), and winglets. Submit a photo and tell us what design choices made the biggest difference.
