When working in the defense or travel industries, you may hear someone be referred to as an aerospace engineer or an aeronautical engineer. While these two titles may sound similar, there are several key differences between the two. What are the key differences, though? Let’s take a deeper look at aerospace engineering vs aeronautical engineering and how those differences may affect your project.
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Aerospace Engineering vs Aeronautical Engineering
Aerospace and aeronautical engineering are closely related and there is an overlap between the two. Aeronautical engineering is actually a branch of aerospace engineering. There is also a second branch of aerospace engineering known as astronautical engineering. The key differences between these three engineering disciplines are whether the craft is being made for travel within the Earth’s atmosphere, outside the Earth’s atmosphere, or both.
Aerospace Engineering
Aerospace engineering is broader and encompasses aeronautical and astronautical engineering. Engineers in this field can work on aircraft like planes that will stay within the Earth’s atmosphere and on spacecraft like space shuttles that will travel beyond the Earth. They may also choose to work with defense programs to develop missiles, military technology, and defense systems. Aerospace engineers’ expertise may include robotics, acoustics, flight mechanics, structural design, and celestial mechanics.
Aeronautical Engineering
Aeronautical engineering is a specialization within aerospace engineering. Engineers under this specialization focus on creating aircraft that stay within the Earth’s atmosphere. This includes airplanes, missiles, and helicopters. Aeronautical engineers have the option of working for the military and defense sector, or in the private sector for airlines and research companies. Aeronautical engineers need to be familiar with concepts such as thermodynamics, flight mechanics, aircraft structure, and stability.
Astronautical Engineering
Astronautical engineering is the second specialization within aerospace engineering. Engineers who specialize in this field deal with the design and creation of crafts that will leave the Earth’s atmosphere, such as space shuttles and satellites. While in the past astronautical engineers were limited to government work, the private space travel industry has grown in recent years. This will mean more jobs openings within the private sector for those with a background in astronautics.
When considering aerospace engineering vs aeronautical engineering it is important to remember that while there are differences, aeronautical engineering is a specialization of aerospace engineering and shares many of its qualities. There is also the specialization of astronautical engineering to consider. No matter which field you work in, Indiana Precision Grinding offers a variety of services to fit your needs. Contact us today to learn more about our grinding processes.
