Come Fly With Us
The Aerospace Engineering Department at SDSU provides education and training in aerospace engineering principles and state-of-the-art practice that emphasizes problem solving, multidisciplinary team work, and ethical engineering practice. We aspire to maintain an active and high quality research program that contributes to future innovations in aerospace engineering. We collaborate with aerospace industry, U.S. national labs and professional aerospace societies to address current and emerging challenges.
Department News
Successful Launch
The Rocket Project team successfully launched their liquid rocket Lady Elizabeth, reaching an altitude of 13,300 ft. on February 01, 2020. The parachute system deployed as designed and the rocket was recovered intact. Congratulations to the Rocket Project team! They worked for 2 1/2 years to make this launch a success.
Successful Static Hot Fire Test
The Rocket Project Club went out to the desert last weekend to static test their rocket and they had a successful burn of just over twelve seconds! This was the first successful test of the entire rocket mounted in flight conditions. They had a maximum thrust of 680 lbf and a stabilized thrust of 550 lbf. These are the results that they were hoping for which keeps them on track to launch on November 16th. The video of the burn is attached above and shows the hard work of the students in RCP. You can find the finished video here: https://youtu.be/8JXBMIkPCL8
They also tested the nosecone ejection recovery system that was previously attempted the weekend before. The test was also a success! After an initial failed attempt, the team concluded that the black powder that they had been using probably took on a lot of moisture from storing and decided to use new powder. In the video that is below, we can see the nosecone shooting off about a foot away from the upper body tube, an ideal distance for this test. For launch, the new black powder will be incorporated into the system and the hopes are high that they will have a successful launch and recovery. Videos and information provided by Marcus Reed (RPC Treasurer).
A small group of students from the Rocket Project Club went to volunteer at Berry Elementary on Wednesday, October 30, 2019. They had a very rewarding experience working with the students. The RPC taught them about rockets and introduced them to the fundamentals of what make rockets fly. Per Marcus Reed (RPC Treasurer): "It was amazing to see their faces light up as they interacted with our air compressor rocket activity when they got to see their own rocket fly!"
Welcome to the first issue of our department Newsletter! Please click on the image above to view the PDF.
Dr. Ahmad Bani-Younes spoke at a panel discussion hosted by AIAA at UCSD.
The AIAA Student Branch at UCSD hosted a NASA Artemis event on October 24, 2019 and invited our Professor Ahmad Bani-Younes as a guest panelist. The panel was about NASA's Artemis program to land on the Moon by 2024. The students were inspired by his presentation and the student chapter was grateful for his participation.
Dr. Joseph Katz, who has studied aerodynamics for more than 30 years, explains that the problem is with sensors. Newer airplanes have a safety measure built into them to reduce the problem. Please click on the title or picture above to read the full story.
As an effort to incorporate innovative pedagogical methods in improving teaching effectiveness, Prof. Xiaofeng Liu has been collaborating with Journal of Visualized Experiments (JoVE) in producing five episodes of Aeronautical Engineering experiment series for its Science Education Database. Topics covered in the five video episodes include Hot-wire Turbulent Boundary Layer Measurement, Turbulence Sphere, Delta Wing, DC6B Aerodynamic Force Measurement, and Supersonic Flow Visualization. You can view the videos by clicking the link above or the picture.
"Bailey said the trampoline dreams that eventually took shape as Accion Systems began to solidify at San Diego State University, where she majored in aerospace engineering." -360
JDP Student Paulina Diaz Montiel Best Poster at UCSD Research Expo
Paulina Diaz Montiel received Structural Engineering Best Poster at the UCSD Research Expo on April 18, 2019.
AE Professor Allen Plotkin Receives AIAA Lifetime Achievement Award
Aerospace Engineering Faculty Dr. Allen Plotkin received an AIAA Lifetime Achievement Award. He will be recognized at the AIAA San Diego Annual Awards Banquet on May 9, 2019.
Design, Build, and Fly team participated the AIAA DBF Competition
SDSU DBF Team participated in the AIAA DBF Competition on April 11-14, 2019, led by Aerospace Engineering Faculty Dr. Xiaofeng Liu.
AE Professor Gustaaf Jacobs Receives Alumni Association Award
Aerospace Engineering Faculty Dr. Gustaaf Jacobs received the Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Faculty Contributions to the University for 2019-2020. Dr. Jacobs will be recognized for this award at the All-University Convocation on August 22, 2019.
AAE Graduate Student Awarded Travel Grant to Present at AAS Conference
Ahmed Atallah, a Ph.D. aerospace engineering student in the Joint Doctoral Program, has won the John V. Breakwell Student Travel Award from the American Astronautical Society (AAS) Space Flight Mechanics Committee.
Alumni Reception at the AIAA SciTech Forum
The Department hosted an Alumni Reception on January 9, 2019, at the AIAA SciTech Forum in San Diego. A number of alumni, from graduates in the 1970s to 2017, came to the event. The faculty and current students of the Department were there to meet and greet the alumni
National College Resources Foundation pledged a $2 million gift to support the Rocket Project and Aerospace Engineering research
On August 8, 2018, Interim Dean Eugene Olevsky, Aerospace Department Chair Dr. Ping Lu, and Senior Director of Development Kate Carinder announced that the National College Resources Foundation (NCRF) under the direction of Dr. Theresa Price has made a $2 million pledge to support SDSU’s Aerospace program.
National College Resources Foundation donated a MOCAT to Rocket Project valued at $264,000
National College Resources Foundation donated a MOCAT to Rocket Project valued at $264,000. National College Resources Foundation donated a 32-ft Mobile Operations Central Assembly Trailer (MOCAT) to the Rocket Project.
Professor Gustaaf Jacobs – Modelling Shock Waves and Particle Interactions in High-Speed Flows
Professor Gustaaf Jacobs Modelling Shock Waves and Particle Interactions in High-Speed Flows
We are pleased to announce the 2018 Galactic Unite Borden Scholarship recipients have been determined.
We are pleased to announce the 2018 Galactic Unite Borden Scholarship recipients have been determined.
The Department of Aerospace Engineering at San Diego State University is soliciting applicants for the 2017/2018 SDSU Galactic Unite Borden scholarships.
The Department of Aerospace Engineering at San Diego State University is soliciting applicants for the 2017/2018 SDSU Galactic Unite Borden scholarships.
SDSU selected as a top university nationally for aerospace and defense industry
SDSU selected as a top university nationally for aerospace and defense industry
Successful Faculty Led Program in Germany again in Summer 2017
Successful Faculty Led Program in Germany again in Summer 2017. 17 engineering students (a full capacity of enrollment) signed up for the program.
2017-2018 SDSU Speer Aerospace Scholarship Awards Announced
2017-2018 SDSU Speer Aerospace Scholarship Awards Announced
Congratulations to the AE Class of 2018!
Congratulations to the AE Class of 2018!
AE alumnus selected to be Young Professional Liason to AIAA Board of Trustees
AE alumnus selected to be Young Professional Liason to AIAA Board of Trustees
The Aerospace Engineering Graduate Program ranked No. 37 Nationally.
The Aerospace Engineering Graduate Program ranked No. 37 Nationally.
We are pleased to announce the 2016 Galactic Unite Borden Scholarship recipients have been determined.
We are pleased to announce the 2016 Galactic Unite Borden Scholarship recipients have been determined.
Two of our students won awards at the SDSU Student Research Symposium 2017.
Two of our students won awards at the SDSU Student Research Symposium 2017.
Professor Ping Lu was a member of the team that was given the Innovation Group Achievement Award
Professor Ping Lu was a member of the team that was given the Innovation Group Achievement Award by the Director of NASA Johnson Space Center in September 2016
Professor Venkataraman was the Principal Investigator of a grant at the amount of $199,800
Professor Venkataraman was the Principal Investigator of a grant at the amount of $199,800 from the Office of Naval Research on “Engineering Uncertainty Quantification of Test Derived Model Parameters for Life Prediction of Composite Bolted Joints in an ICME Framework”.
Professor Gustaaf Jacobs received a 3-year grant totaling $1,000,000
Professor Gustaaf Jacobs received a 3-year grant totaling $1,000,000 from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research on “Simulation of Particle Laden Blast Waves with Inter-Scale Coupling and Uncertainty Quantification” (2015-2018)