Aerospace Branches

Aerodynamics - What keeps the vehicle in the air?

Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with the difference being that gas dynamics applies to all gases.

                                                                         Space Shuttle

Performance - How fast and how high will the vehicle go?

It deals with the factors that affect aircraft performance, which includes the airplane weight, atmospheric conditions, runway environment, and the fundamental physical laws governing the forces acting on an airplane.

                                                               Soyuz TMA-08A Rocket

Propulsion - What makes the vehicle move?

Jet propulsion is thrust produced by passing a jet of matter (typically air or water) in the opposite direction to the direction of motion. By conservation of momentum, the moving body is propelled in the opposite direction to the jet.

                                                                            Airplane

Stability and Control - What keeps the vehicle stay on course?

Stability and Control is the study of how to control the speed, direction, altitude and other conditions that affect how a plane flies.

                                                                          Satellite

Structures - What holds the vehicle together?

Structures are the configuration of any component on the aeroplane. For example, a wing is comprised of different structures like the skin, stringers, buttstraps, crown fittings etc. The study of structures deals with bending moment of beams their actions, reactions, the materials used to manufacture those structural parts, their properties and so on.

Aerospace structures typically require the use of composite materials, advanced multifunctional materials, and thin-walled constructions. To obtain the level of performance required from flight structures, thorough knowledge of material limitations, structural stability and strength considerations are needed.