Aerospace Engineering (Engineering, M.S./M.E.) at Old Dominion University

Aerospace engineering concerns processes involved in design, manufacture and operation of aerospace vehicles within and beyond planetary atmospheres. Vehicles range from helicopters and other vertical takeoff aircraft at the low-speed end of the flight spectrum, to spacecraft traveling thousands of miles per hour during launch, orbit, trans-planetary flight or re-entry at the high-speed end. Between are general aviation and commercial transport aircraft flying at speeds well below and close to the speed of sound, and supersonic transports, fighters and missiles. Although each speed regime and each vehicle poses its special problems, all aerospace vehicles can be addressed by a common set of technical specialties or disciplines.

Sub-disciplines of Aerospace Engineering are: aerodynamics, flight dynamics, propulsion, structures, and design. Aerodynamics addresses the flow of air and associated forces, moments, pressures, and temperature changes. Flight-dynamics addresses the motion of vehicles including trajectories, rotational dynamics, sensors, and control laws required for successful accomplishment of missions. Propulsion addresses the engines that have been devised to convert chemical (and occasionally other forms) energy into useful work to produce the thrust needed to propel aerospace vehicles. Structures addresses material properties, stresses, strains, deflection, and vibration along with manufacturing processes required to produce very light weight and rugged elements needed in aerospace vehicles. Aerospace design addresses the process of synthesizing vehicles and systems to meet defined missions and more general needs. This process draws on information from other sub-disciplines while embodying its own unique elements. The Aerospace Engineering program is designed to provide a firm foundation in various sub-disciplines.