Aerospace Engineering at UCLA
Learn the fundamentals of flight mechanics, explore the differences between aeronautical and astronautical engineering, engage with experienced professionals in the field, and more.
Summer Aerospace Engineering program for teens in Los Angeles
Program Highlights
Residential Tuition :
$5,998
Commuter Tuition:
$3,298
Session 1:
June 22, 2025
July 4, 2025
Session 2:
July 6, 2025
July 18, 2025
Session 3:
July 20, 2025
August 1, 2025
UCLA
Los Angeles, CA
Testimonials
-
It was nice to have an actual engineer as the instructor of the course who had been on the job for most of his life.
-
I enjoyed the real world insight from the field trips. We went to a construction site and Autodesk Gallery to learn about the mechanics of machines and buildings.
Course Overview
“With companies like Boeing, SpaceX, Relativity Space, The Aerospace Corporation, Northrop Grumman, and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory – to name a few – located nearby, there’s no better place to launch into the field of Aerospace Engineering than with Summer Springboard in Los Angeles this summer. Throughout the course, students will explore and unpack various asepcts of aerosapce engineering, including the history of flight, flights mechanics, system engineering, principles of effective design for aircraft and spacecraft, propiulsions systems, aircraft performace, 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. In the past, students have heard from guest speakers affiliated with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, The Aerospace Corporation, and more.
Note: Excursions to local aerospace companies will require proof of U.S. Citizenship due to contracts those companies hold with the federal government.
Meet your instructor
Dr. Vincent Phong
Sessions: 1 & 3
Dr. Vincent Phong had received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical and aerospace engineering from the University of California, Irvine, where his research area focused on methods of identifying and reducing noise from propulsion systems. While in graduate school, Dr. Phong had instructed courses in aerodynamics, aircraft propulsion and aircraft design. He currently is a propulsion engineer at the Aerospace Corporation, where he conducts applied experimental research to help investigate and mitigate propulsion system technology risk. His work at Aerospace explores combustion stability of additively manufactured injector designs and material compatibility in high pressure, oxygen-rich environments. Dr. Phong has collaborated with researchers at several universities including MIT and UCLA, industry experts at RTX Corporation, GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and government agencies such as NASA and several DoD organizations. Prior to joining the Aerospace Corporation, Dr. Phong worked at General Atomics, Aeronautical Systems Inc., where he supported next-generation unmanned aircraft system design, component-level propulsion testing, and created a course in acoustics and its multidisciplinary implications on survivable aircraft design.
Dr. Fabio Bendana
Session: 2
Dr. Fabio Bendana is a research scientist within the Propulsion Science department at The Aerospace Corporation. His primary role is to lead research, development, and testing efforts related to the advancement and application of chemical propulsion technology in support of national security and civil space programs. At Aerospace, he serves as the principal investigator on several active experimental efforts related to the advancement of liquid-propellant rocket engines and in-space chemical propulsion systems.
In addition to his role at Aerospace, Dr. Bendana is an instructor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department at UCLA, where he teaches an undergraduate- and graduate-level course on Rocket Propulsion Systems. His course covers topics that include: fundamental combustion thermochemistry, mission and trajectory analysis, liquid-propellant rocket engines, solid rocket motors, hybrid rockets, electric propulsion, and more advanced propulsion concepts.
Dr. Bendana received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA working on novel laser-based sensing technologies for advanced reacting flows. Additionally, he holds an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA and a B.S. in both Aerospace Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from UCI. In addition to enjoying the technical aspects of his work, Dr. Bendana has a deep appreciation for mentorship. He serves on the Liquid Propulsion Technical Committee for the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and mentors students from various research groups across the country, including USC, MIT, UTSA, and UCLA.
Topics you'll explore
Hands-On Learning
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.
Career Exploration
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. In the past, students have heard from guest speakers affiliated with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, The Aerospace Corporation, and more.
Note: Excursions to local aerospace companies will require proof of U.S. Citizenship due to contracts those companies hold with the federal government.
