Aerospace Engineering: From Sky to Surface by Charles

Aerospace Engineering: From Sky to Surface by Charles - December 2023 Scholarship Essay

Personally, I find aerospace engineering to provide the most grounds for innovation today. Large aerospace facilities like NASA and SpaceX, for instance, have been successfully launching and landing rockets in recent years around our solar system. As a result, we’ve continued to push the boundaries of human knowledge by learning more about the universe we inhabit. Of course, the impacts of aerospace aren’t limited to the cosmos—but, just because the applications of aerospace aren’t always as grand as pushing the boundaries of human knowledge, doesn’t mean they can’t be useful for those of us on Earth.
When you look into the sky—not quite as far as the cosmos, but close enough to home—you might be able to see the construction of aerospace engineering, namely airplanes. Unlike any other means of travel, airplanes provide fast, efficient transportation which has enabled travel, economy, and connectivity at an international scale. However, an increasingly relevant issue with aircraft has been their CO2 emissions and vapor trails which are contributing to pollution. But, thanks to aerospace engineers, aircraft are only continuing to improve with research into more eco-friendly and renewable energy models, ensuring their benefit to society doesn’t come at the cost of the environment. For instance, the past decade has seen an increased use of SAFs, sustainable aviation fuels developed by aerospace engineers, a biofuel similar to jet fuels but with a smaller carbon footprint. In addition, the current development of hybrid and electric aircraft aims to increase energy efficiency and reduce emissions created by aircraft.
Further, beyond the horizon, another product of aerospace—satellites—still maintains a large presence in our everyday lives on Earth. The impact of the global data transmission that satellites provide cannot be understated—they facilitate video and voice calls, transmit television, radio, and media broadcasts, provide broadband internet services, power GPS, and much more. All of these contribute to international communication which has shaped our modern world. Where aerospace comes in is ensuring the longevity and efficiency of these satellites. Space isn’t a kind place—in fact, it’s a harsh environment of extremely cold temperatures, radiation, and debris that threaten any form of spacecraft. So, aerospace engineers are responsible for overcoming issues like a harsh space environment, limited power, and communication delays, to name a few. With the design of new materials and efficient propulsion systems, satellites have been made to withstand the hazards of space and minimize waste. Still, aerospace engineers are continuing to improve satellite technology—for instance, with the integration of AI to enhance autonomy in spacecraft which will help to improve efficiency.
It’s also worth noting that the impact of aerospace engineering’s findings isn’t limited—advances in aerospace have also led to important progress in other sectors of engineering. Research into materials that can withstand space can be widely applied in mechanics and material science which also aim to develop lightweight and durable alloys. In addition, the application of aerodynamics in aerospace research has helped to advance fields such as electrical and environmental engineering which use principles of wind to create sustainable methods of harnessing power. And, of course, the development of aircraft technology has led to progress in the defense industry, shaping our national security.
So sure—in part to the field of aerospace, we continue to push the boundaries of human knowledge and learn more about the vast universe we live in. But, closer to home, aerospace engineering has paved the road for modern society by facilitating global communication and adapting current technologies to be more efficient and eco-friendly. I’d say that aerospace is a very modern major, in the sense that its immediate impacts are being seen right now at a time when technology is advanced enough to accommodate our growing innovation and knowledge, which was more limited just a century ago. I only expect aerospace’s contribution to society to increase in the future. Even with recent advances to maintain the environment, natural resources are still being exhausted. In the future, it may be necessary to begin looking outwards into space to sustain society, and aerospace engineers will be crucial to pave the road there. In any case, aerospace today will continue to serve our lives and connect every one of us—from the sky all the way down to our surface.