Astronautical Engineering (BS)

Goals

The main objective of the astronautical engineering program is to produce graduates who will be able to support the needs of NASA and the space industry in planning and executing space missions.

Learning Objectives

The program seeks to prepare graduates who will be able to demonstrate four characteristics:

• Employability: The ability to enter into the field of astronautical engineering fully prepared with a theoretical and practical background and with all the necessary tools to be immediately employed.

• Communications: Have complete mastery of traditional and technological techniques of communication.

• Preparation of the Mind: The broad intellectual grounding in science and technology and general subjects required to embrace future technical and managerial opportunities within the space industry.

• Professionalism: Commitment to life-long learning, ethical practice and participation in professional societies.

Outcomes

Upon graduation, graduates will have:

• the ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering to astronautical related problems
• the ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data to support space missions
• the ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability and sustainability
• the ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams
• the ability to identify, formulate and solve space related engineering problems
• an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
• the ability to communicate effectively
• the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental and societal context
• a recognition of the need for, and the ability to engage in, life-long learning
• knowledge of contemporary issues related to the space industry
• the ability to use the current techniques, skills, modern engineering and modeling tools used in the space industry
• an understanding of the design of spacecraft and spacecraft systems to maintain attitude and control
• an understanding of the command and control systems that support a space mission