Astronautics

Astronautics (alternatively cosmonautics), is the theory and practice of navigation beyond the Earth's atmosphere. In other words, it is the science and technology of spaceflight.

The term astronautics was coined by analogy with aeronautics. As there is a certain degree of technology overlapping between the two fields, the term aerospace is often used to describe them both.

As with aeronautics, the restrictions of mass, temperatures, and external forces require that applications in space survive extreme conditions: high-grade vacuum, the radiation bombardment of interplanetary space and the magnetic belts of low Earth orbit. Space launch vehicles must withstand titanic forces, while satellites can experience huge variations in temperature in very brief periods. Extreme constraints on mass cause astronautical engineers to face the constant need to save mass in the design in order to maximize the actual payload that reaches orbit.

Job Description

Without astronautical engineers, Neil Armstrong would never have made it to the moon, ‘Houston’ would be inundated with all kinds of ‘problems’, and Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum would never have been able to successfully plant that computer virus in that alien mother-ship in Independence Day.  

Astronautical engineers use their technical nous, practical skills and expert scientific knowledge to design, develop, research, test, tweak, adjust and upgrade sophisticated and complex engineering solutions, such as space shuttles, space launch vehicles, satellites, rockets, space capsules and planetary probes.

Astronautical engineers often take on specialist roles, focusing on a specific sub-category of the astronautical engineering remit, such as electrical and electronic engineering, spacecraft design,structural engineering, software engineering for automation and guidance purposes, or propulsion systems.

Others focus their efforts on concepts such as space weather or astrodynamics.

The majority of opportunities are available with manufacturers of spacecraft, space agencies and executive agencies that focus on scientific research and engineering projects.

Alternatively, you could find work with an advanced research and development center or a higher education institution in a purely research-focused role.

Average Salary

• According to the Engineer Salary website, astronautical engineers earn $87,000 per year on average as of May 2011. The lowest paid 10 percent earn less than $59,610, while the highest paid 10 percent earn more than $124,550. Young astronautical engineers just starting out can expect to be paid on the lower end of that range. The Engineer Salary website indicates that the average starting salary for astronautical and aerospace engineers with a bachelor's degree is $53,408; the average starting salary with a master's degree is $62,549; and the average starting salary with a doctorate degree is $73,814.

• Experience

  • PayScale.com indicates that salaries vary by experience for aerospace and astronautical engineers. For example, those just starting out with less then one year of experience earn between $43,964 and $74,784 per year as of May 2011, while those with one to four years of experience earn between $49,846 and $79,907, a slightly higher range. As engineers gain more experience, salaries typically increase. Those with five to nine years of experience earn between $59,853 and $98,768; those with 10 to 19 years of experience earn between $71,961 and $120,177; and those with 20 or more years of experience earn between $85,113 and $148,457.
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  • Location

    • Geographic location also affects salaries for aerospace and astronautical engineers. According to PayScale.com, engineers in Fort Worth, Texas, are some of the highest paid in the country, with a salary ranging between $54,926 and $126,023 as of May 2011. Engineers in Los Angeles are paid an average salary between $50,713 and $118,295, while engineers in Houston, Texas, earn between $50,713 and $118,295. Engineers in Hunstville, Alabama, earn the lowest salaries by city reported by PayScale, with a salary ranging between $50,374 and $99,253. Starting salaries are generally on the low end of these salary ranges.

    Employer

    • The employer that aerospace and astronautical engineers work for also affects starting salaries. For example, according to PayScale.com as of May 2011, engineers who work for Boeing earn between $59,445 and $120,406 per year, while engineers who work for General Electric Aviation (GE) earn between $60,282 and $85,570, the lowest paying company reported by PayScale. Engineers who work for NASA have the widest salary range reported by PayScale.com, between $48,980 and $136,750 a year. Engineers who work for the U.S. Air Force earn between $33,935 and $93,575 a year. Starting salaries are typically on the lower end of these salary ranges.
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