Aerospace Engineering Glossary

The study of the motion of air and its interaction with solid objects, such as aircraft wings.

The cross-sectional shape of a wing, blade, or sail designed to produce lift when air flows over it.

The angle between the chord line of an airfoil and the direction of the oncoming airflow.

Electronic systems used in aircraft and spacecraft, including navigation, communications, and flight management.

The thin layer of fluid near a surface where viscous effects are significant and velocity changes from zero to free-stream.

The ratio of air mass flow bypassing the engine core to air flowing through the core in a turbofan engine.

An engineered material made from two or more materials with different properties, producing a superior combined material.

The use of numerical methods and computers to simulate and analyze fluid flow behavior.

The total change in velocity ($\Delta v$) required for a spacecraft to perform a maneuver or complete a mission.

The aerodynamic force opposing an object's motion through a fluid: $D = \frac{1}{2}\rho v^2 S C_D$.

The minimum speed an object must reach to escape a celestial body's gravitational field: $v_e = \sqrt{\frac{2GM}{r}}$.

A computational method for predicting how structures respond to forces, vibration, heat, and other physical effects.

A self-excited aeroelastic instability that can cause structural failure due to coupling of aerodynamic and structural forces.

A circular orbit at approximately $35{,}786$ km altitude where a satellite's orbital period matches Earth's rotation ($T = 24$ h).

An elliptical orbit maneuver that provides the most fuel-efficient transfer between two coplanar circular orbits.

Flight at speeds greater than $M > 5$, where aerodynamic heating and chemical effects in air become critical design factors.

The aerodynamic force perpendicular to the oncoming airflow that supports an aircraft's weight: $L = \frac{1}{2}\rho v^2 S C_L$.

The ratio of an object's speed to the local speed of sound: $M = \frac{v}{a}$.

The study of the motion of objects in space under the influence of gravitational forces.

The cargo, passengers, instruments, or other useful load carried by an aircraft or spacecraft.

The chemical mixture burned in a rocket engine to produce thrust, consisting of a fuel and an oxidizer.

A measure of propulsion efficiency: $I_{sp} = \frac{F}{\dot{m} g_0}$, indicating the thrust produced per unit weight of propellant consumed per second.

The sudden loss of lift that occurs when the angle of attack exceeds the critical angle and airflow separates from the wing.

The forward force produced by an engine or motor to propel an aircraft or spacecraft.

A facility that produces controlled airflow to test aerodynamic properties of models and full-scale components.