Seattle is a wonderful place to launch into the field of Aerospace Engineering due to the Boeing presence in the city, the city’s vast research and innovation, and aerospace manufacturing being the state’s largest export. Join Summer Springboard at University of Washington to learn about the growing field which welcomes numerous academic paths and job opportunities. Throughout the course, students will explore and unpack various aspects of aerospace engineering, including the history of flight, flights mechanics, system engineering, principles of effective design for aircraft and spacecraft, propulsions systems, aircraft performance, and more. Students will understand the key differences between aeronautical and astronautical engineering and use basic orbital mechanics. Students will participate in hands-on practical activities based on the topics they are learning, including designing and manipulating their own basic glider airplane or rocket to test certain flight maneuvers/concepts, and perform within certain parameters.

Previous foundational knowledge in the following classes is either recommended (R) or strongly recommended (SR), but not required: algebra (R), geometry (R), trigonometry (SR), calculus (SR), and physics 1 and 2 (SR).

Guest Speakers and Excursions: Students will have the chance to visit companies or organizations in the aerospace engineering industry, as well as hear from experienced professionals in the field. Although this is a first year program, previous students in the course have heard from guest speakers affiliated with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, The Aerospace Corporation, and more.