Expert: Mark Janus - 12/6/2004

Question
dear sir
i would like to seek some information from u if u could help me . i wish to know that im having very keen interests in computers and software development as well as rocketry and aerospace so is there possible that i could go in for software development for space and missile systems. i mean is there any possibility and scope of being in development of softwares related to aerospace and rocketry? what should be the qualification for this type of job and scope and chances?
kindly guide me about all this
thanking u
anupam goyal


Answer
Dear Anupam,

Sure there is a great deal of work to be done in the computational side of aerospace and rocketry.  That is basically what I do for a living....  In aerospace you can focus on fluids, structures, flight mechanics, or possibly orbital mechanics....  I specialize in fluids (more specifically computational fluids)....  You need a good background in mathematics and physics....  Aerospace engineers are specialized mechanical engineers basically...so if you are in school and studying various courses, I'd lean toward courses which will help you in college such as calculus, physics, and computer science (which it sounds like you are interested in)....

I work for Mississippi State University you could visit our web site for some info regarding aerospace curriculum....

http://www.ae.msstate.edu

Also, I work in the Computational Engineering Program which basically deals with computational simulation of various physical processes....

http://www.erc.msstate.edu/cme

Thanks and hope I helped a bit...
mj