What is Aeronautics?

Aeronautics is the study or practice of travel through the air. It is the study and application of the science or art involved in the design, and manufacturing of air flight-capable machines, and the techniques of operating aircraft and rockets.

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is an independent government agency responsible for civilian space programs.

NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center is the largest combined organization of engineers, scientists, and others in the United States. They build spacecraft, instruments, and technology to study Earth, the sun, our solar system and beyond.

In the video below people from Goddard speak about what they do:

To broaden your students’ understanding give them the above background and definitions.

Show and discuss this video from Goddard.

Discuss some of the areas of research and applications.

Discuss careers involved that get this work done.

Discuss how subjects like math, science, design, art, etc. are used by the professionals featured in the video.

Can your students visualize working in these careers? Or similar careers? This is a vital connection to make.

Continue this procedure once or twice a week with other similar videos as lesson openers. Note the changes in attitudes and participation!

Your students may also be interested to see this short one-minute video of Space Shuttle Endeavour. It is a retired orbiter from NASA’s Space Shuttle program. It is on exhibit at the California Science Museum in Los Angeles, CA.

We have made this part of our free resources so you can readily access it at any time.

Futures Channel STEM Screening Room subscription offers access to 140+ videos and over 200 lesson plans (that contain 4 to 5 activities each).