Aerospace Engineering encompasses a broad array of topics dedicated to the design, development, and operation of aircraft and spacecraft. Important topics involve aerodynamics, which is concerned with the way air behaves when in contact with solid bodies; propulsion, which is concerned with the engines and the forces necessary to propel aircraft and spacecraft; and structural analysis, which is concerned with the strength and endurance of materials employed in aerospace uses. Control systems are important in maintaining the stability and operation of space vehicles and airplanes, while flight mechanics investigates the dynamics of flight and forces present in flight.
Moreover, avionics deals with electronic systems applied in aviation, while materials science deals with the creation of new materials that apply to aeronautical operations. In spacecraft design, students study the special challenges of missions in space. Aerospace engineering is a cross-disciplinary field that combines physics, engineering, and technology to design safe and efficient air and space systems.