3 answers
Anthony
Student
Arizona City, Arizona
2
Questions
Updated
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How does it feel in the daily life of an aerospace engineer ?
Hi, my name is Anthony. I am in 8th grade, soon heading to high school, and I would like to know what path I should take throughout high school to become an aerospace engineer. I have always had a deep interest in space travel and flight shows, and I want to improve and design spacecraft and jets so that we can explore distant planets. I’ve always loved science and working visually to imagine new designs. What is a typical day like for an aerospace engineer, and what was the most important thing you did in high school to prepare for your career? I am asking because I have always loved building space and planes out of legos and it would be great to design my own plane/spaceship.
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3 answers
Fahad Elahi Khan
Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate
66
Answers
Chittagong, Chittagong Division, Bangladesh
Updated
Fahad Elahi’s Answer
Hey Anthony, it's amazing that you're in 8th grade and already so excited about space travel, flight shows, and designing spacecraft and jets! Your love for building with LEGOs and imagining new designs is a great start for a future in aerospace engineering. Many engineers began just like you—dreaming big and turning ideas into reality. Your interest in creative problem-solving and design will be really useful, as much of the job involves sketching concepts, using 3D modeling, and innovating for better efficiency and safety.
In high school, focus on building a strong foundation to get into a good college engineering program. Try to take challenging courses to show colleges you're serious. Key classes to focus on include:
Math:
- Algebra I/II
- Geometry
- Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry
- Calculus (AP Calculus AB or BC is especially important)
- Statistics (helpful for data analysis)
Science:
- Physics (AP Physics is ideal)
- Chemistry (AP if possible)
- Biology (good but less critical)
Other helpful classes:
- Computer Science/Programming (AP Computer Science)
- Drafting/CAD or engineering drawing
- Robotics, STEM, or maker/engineering electives
- English/communication (for reports and teamwork)
Extracurricular activities and hands-on projects are super important:
- Join clubs like robotics, science, or rocketry
- Participate in science fairs with aerospace projects
- Build things outside school: advanced LEGO sets, drones, model planes/rockets
- Attend summer programs like NASA camps or engineering camps
- Volunteer or shadow at places like airports or museums
This path will prepare you for college and a strong aerospace program. In college, you'll major in Aerospace Engineering and do internships. Many successful aerospace engineers took advanced math and physics and did hands-on projects in high school. Colleges love seeing real passion through building and experimenting, just like your LEGO designs!
A typical day for an aerospace engineer varies depending on the role and project phase. It often includes office work like running simulations, updating models, and meetings. Some days involve lab work, testing prototypes, or traveling to test sites. Problem-solving is a big part of the job, and it's exciting to crack tough problems. The work is a mix of thinking, teamwork, and seeing designs come to life. It's rewarding when you contribute to something that flies or explores space.
Keep nurturing your passion, Anthony. Your LEGO building and imagination are exactly what draw people to this career. Focus on strong math and science in high school, dive into projects, and enjoy the journey!
In high school, focus on building a strong foundation to get into a good college engineering program. Try to take challenging courses to show colleges you're serious. Key classes to focus on include:
Math:
- Algebra I/II
- Geometry
- Pre-Calculus/Trigonometry
- Calculus (AP Calculus AB or BC is especially important)
- Statistics (helpful for data analysis)
Science:
- Physics (AP Physics is ideal)
- Chemistry (AP if possible)
- Biology (good but less critical)
Other helpful classes:
- Computer Science/Programming (AP Computer Science)
- Drafting/CAD or engineering drawing
- Robotics, STEM, or maker/engineering electives
- English/communication (for reports and teamwork)
Extracurricular activities and hands-on projects are super important:
- Join clubs like robotics, science, or rocketry
- Participate in science fairs with aerospace projects
- Build things outside school: advanced LEGO sets, drones, model planes/rockets
- Attend summer programs like NASA camps or engineering camps
- Volunteer or shadow at places like airports or museums
This path will prepare you for college and a strong aerospace program. In college, you'll major in Aerospace Engineering and do internships. Many successful aerospace engineers took advanced math and physics and did hands-on projects in high school. Colleges love seeing real passion through building and experimenting, just like your LEGO designs!
A typical day for an aerospace engineer varies depending on the role and project phase. It often includes office work like running simulations, updating models, and meetings. Some days involve lab work, testing prototypes, or traveling to test sites. Problem-solving is a big part of the job, and it's exciting to crack tough problems. The work is a mix of thinking, teamwork, and seeing designs come to life. It's rewarding when you contribute to something that flies or explores space.
Keep nurturing your passion, Anthony. Your LEGO building and imagination are exactly what draw people to this career. Focus on strong math and science in high school, dive into projects, and enjoy the journey!
Andrew Au
Professor of Mathematics & Statistics, Retired
258
Answers
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
If you are interested in aerospace engineering, it is imperative that you should start appropriate academic preparation as soon as you enter high school. The key subjects are mathematics and physics. You should take as many mathematics courses as possible because mathematics is the language of science and engineering. Preferably, you should complete Algebra I and Algebra II as soon as possible. If possible, take AP College Algebra, AP Calculus AB, and AP Calculus BC. Furthermore, since physics is the foundation of engineering, you should also take AP Physics, if possible, too. If you have all these courses under your belt, you are well prepared for an undergraduate degree in engineering.
As far as the daily life of an aerospace engineer is concerned, one should remember that we are all human. Hence, the daily routines are necessarily human ones. For an aerospace engineer, or any scientist or engineer, a good amount of the time should be devoted to the designated professional work. In fact, any one of us needs to devote time and energy on our professional work, personal needs, family, and society.
As far as the daily life of an aerospace engineer is concerned, one should remember that we are all human. Hence, the daily routines are necessarily human ones. For an aerospace engineer, or any scientist or engineer, a good amount of the time should be devoted to the designated professional work. In fact, any one of us needs to devote time and energy on our professional work, personal needs, family, and society.
John Ngari
Project Management (Computer Science)
1
Answer
Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya
Updated
John’s Answer
Hi Anthony,
First of all, it’s really exciting to hear how passionate you are about space and airplanes. The fact that you already enjoy building spacecraft and planes with LEGO and imagining new designs is actually a great sign—you’re already thinking like an engineer!
What daily life feels like for an aerospace engineer
A typical day for an aerospace engineer is a mix of creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork. Many people imagine engineers just building rockets all day, but a lot of the work happens in planning, designing, and testing ideas.
On a normal day, an aerospace engineer might:
Design parts of aircraft or spacecraft using computer design software.
Work with a team of engineers to solve problems, improve safety, or make designs more efficient.
Run simulations or tests to see how a wing, engine, or spacecraft would perform in real conditions.
Analyze data from experiments or flight tests.
Discuss ideas and improvements in meetings with other engineers.
Some days are spent mostly at a computer designing models, while other days might involve visiting testing facilities, wind tunnels, or manufacturing areas. The best part for many engineers is seeing something they helped design actually fly.
What helped most in high school
If you want to become an aerospace engineer, the most helpful things to focus on in high school are:
Math – especially algebra, geometry, and later calculus. Math is the language engineers use to design and predict how things will fly.
Science – physics is especially important because it explains motion, forces, and aerodynamics.
Computer skills – learning programming or design software can be very useful.
Engineering or robotics clubs – building things with teams helps a lot.
Also, keep doing what you’re already doing: building things and imagining designs. Many engineers started exactly the same way—building planes, rockets, or machines from LEGO or simple materials.
One important thing I would recommend
Try to stay curious and keep experimenting. Build model rockets, try simple aerodynamics projects, watch how planes work, or even draw your own aircraft designs. The habit of asking “How can this be better?” is something every great engineer has.
Your dream of designing spacecraft and jets is absolutely possible if you keep nurturing your interest in science, math, and creativity. The fact that you’re asking these questions in 8th grade already puts you on a great path.
Keep building, keep imagining, and keep asking questions. The future of space exploration will need curious minds like yours.
Wishing you the best on your journey! 🚀✈️
First of all, it’s really exciting to hear how passionate you are about space and airplanes. The fact that you already enjoy building spacecraft and planes with LEGO and imagining new designs is actually a great sign—you’re already thinking like an engineer!
What daily life feels like for an aerospace engineer
A typical day for an aerospace engineer is a mix of creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork. Many people imagine engineers just building rockets all day, but a lot of the work happens in planning, designing, and testing ideas.
On a normal day, an aerospace engineer might:
Design parts of aircraft or spacecraft using computer design software.
Work with a team of engineers to solve problems, improve safety, or make designs more efficient.
Run simulations or tests to see how a wing, engine, or spacecraft would perform in real conditions.
Analyze data from experiments or flight tests.
Discuss ideas and improvements in meetings with other engineers.
Some days are spent mostly at a computer designing models, while other days might involve visiting testing facilities, wind tunnels, or manufacturing areas. The best part for many engineers is seeing something they helped design actually fly.
What helped most in high school
If you want to become an aerospace engineer, the most helpful things to focus on in high school are:
Math – especially algebra, geometry, and later calculus. Math is the language engineers use to design and predict how things will fly.
Science – physics is especially important because it explains motion, forces, and aerodynamics.
Computer skills – learning programming or design software can be very useful.
Engineering or robotics clubs – building things with teams helps a lot.
Also, keep doing what you’re already doing: building things and imagining designs. Many engineers started exactly the same way—building planes, rockets, or machines from LEGO or simple materials.
One important thing I would recommend
Try to stay curious and keep experimenting. Build model rockets, try simple aerodynamics projects, watch how planes work, or even draw your own aircraft designs. The habit of asking “How can this be better?” is something every great engineer has.
Your dream of designing spacecraft and jets is absolutely possible if you keep nurturing your interest in science, math, and creativity. The fact that you’re asking these questions in 8th grade already puts you on a great path.
Keep building, keep imagining, and keep asking questions. The future of space exploration will need curious minds like yours.
Wishing you the best on your journey! 🚀✈️