<p>I've seen several people telling others to major in mechanical instead of aerospace, because of increased job opportunities, and less chances of unemployment.</p>
<p>But, I am more passionate about aerospace, especially the astronautics branch. I am more into Orbiter Space Flight Simulator than The Incredible Machine. I'm interested in rockets and satellites, and I was never interested in the inner workings of mechanical devices, but then again, I've never seen a rocket in real life (not even a model rocket - I've only seen them in simulations or videos).</p>
<p>I am interested in working in the spaceflight industry.</p>
<p>Mechanical engineers do a lot more than “the inner workings of mechanical devices”. The reason people often suggest this is because mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering are essentially the same fields using different examples. Both generally have the same three core focus areas (thermal fluid sciences; mechanics of materials; and dynamics and controls) and both have a lot of each others’ researchers presenting at conferences for both fields (AIAA and ASME for example).</p>
<p>Aerospace engineering is fine to do as an undergraduate, especially if you already know for sure that is what you want to do. The issue is when people are on the fence. Then it may be smarter to do mechanical because if you change your mind you are generally more marketable to other industries.</p>
<p>By the way, are all aerospace undergraduate curricula the same? Are some schools more focused on astronautics than aeronautics? If so, which ones?</p>
<p>All of them that are ABET-accredited have the same basic core classes at a minimum. The variety of electives and relative strength of those electives absolutely varies. Some departments will have more of a space focus than others.</p>
<p>This is too broad. What part of space craft design? What part of launch vehicles? </p>
<p>There are lots of engineers, mathematicians and physicists that are involved in these projects. Engineering alone would represent aerospace, mechanical, computer, chemical and I’m sure others I can’t conceive of. </p>
<p>Do you want to design the most efficient shape or design the things that happen within that flying shape?</p>
<p>Aero is about how stuff moves around an object, airplane, rocket, torpedo, Americas’ Cup hydrophoil, you name it. The rest falls into other areas including pure math and physics.</p>
<p>Oh come on. You are asking a high school kid what part of space launch vehicles he wants to design. That’s ridiculous. He likely doesn’t even know the various parts that need to be worked on, let alone which he wants to be a part of. Being interested in astronautics is good enough and just implies he should try to look into programs that don’t just gloss over astronautics in favor of aeronautics.</p>
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<p>This is patently false. Aerospace engineers work in aerodynamics and propulsion, sure, but many more work in materials, structures, dynamics or controls (or various hybrid fields). Many of those have branches primarily or exclusively dealing with spacecraft in addition to aircraft.</p>
<p>That’s the point I’m trying to make, not so clearly unfortunately, that the aerospace industry has many parts, not just aerospace engineering per se. Within that industry, what really interests him might actually be in another discipline. My bad on the lack of clarity.</p>
<p>It doesn’t usually work that way, Pipcard. While it’s true that some schools offer more classes in aero than astro, nearly all schools will either make you choose a track to follow (astronautical or aeronautical), or have you pick electives related to your field of interest. This will occur sometime during your sophmore/junior year. </p>
<p>Some of the better schools with strong ties to the space industry are:</p>
<p>Alabama
Purdue
Georgia Tech
MIT
Caltech
Embry-Riddle
Texas A&M CS
UT Austin
FIT
USC
Stanford
Michigan
Iowa State
UIUC</p>
<p>You don’t necessarily need to attend one of these schools to get in to the space industry, however. Virtually any ABET-accredited engineering program will be represented in the aerospace industry in some way, shape or form. However, to get the best jobs straight out of college, it helps to go to a school with a strong program and experienced faculty.</p>
<p>When you apply to UAH click on mechanical and then (I think… I’m not sure, because I applied last month) there is something you can click to specify that you want to focus on aerospace.</p>
<p>Check out Auburn University’s Aerospace Engineering Program and also their AUSSP program - they will be building another satellite ready for launch in 2015 I believe…the one they built and launched in 2011 is still active and working - as a freshman you can join the Student Space Program…all different kinds of engineering and COSAM majors.</p>