Aerospace as a career option

Aerospace is a field of science that is closely related to engineering and space. It is the study of the Earth’s atmosphere, known as aeronautics, and of its surrounding space, known as astronautics. Aerospace is an expansive field that has a number of applications including commercial, industrial, as well as military operations. There are several aerospace organizations that cater to the research, designing, manufacturing, operation, and maintenance of an aircraft. What is aerospace engineering? Aerospace engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with the manufacturing, designing, development, testing, and the functioning of aircraft as well as spacecrafts. Aerospace engineering has two main parts – aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. While aeronautical engineering deals mainly with aircraft, helicopters, jets, and submarines, astronautical engineering deals with designing of rockets and spacecrafts. Those interested in studying aerospace engineering need to get a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in aerospace engineering along with a strong knowledge and understanding of mathematics and physics. There are several job opportunities in the aerospace industry, some of which are listed below: Aerospace engineer: An aerospace engineer is expected to work with a team that is largely involved in designing, testing, and assembling of the aircraft. To become an aerospace engineer, an individual needs to have an educational background in mathematics, physics, earth sciences, and biological sciences. In several instances, the aspiring candidate is also expected to be well-versed in areas like missile guidance systems and propulsion. Flight technician: A flight technician handles the technicalities of an aircraft. There are different types of technicians in the aerospace industry. These are classified into mechanics, aerospace technicians, aeronautical technicians, and avionic technicians. The flight technician is basically responsible for constructing, testing, and operating an aircraft and its control systems. Pilot: The pilot is a crucial part of the aerospace industry. A pilot needs to have good knowledge about spacecraft engineering. He/she also needs to go through a physical fitness examination. Scientist: Being a scientist is an essential part of aerospace. The role of a scientist in aerospace engineering involves designing as well as testing systems along with having information of all space-related technologies. Technical communicator: A technical communicator plays a crucial role in maintaining a connection between the aircraft crew including the pilot and the ground force. A student aspiring to become a technical communicator needs to have excellent communication skills. Besides, the candidate will, at times, be also required to translate complex technical information into simpler and easier terms for better understanding of the non-technical staff. Therefore, a person aspiring to be a technical communicator needs to be an expert in the field and is also partly responsible for writing and managing flow of communication within and outside the aircraft