Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
Located in the beautiful city of Boulder, the University of Colorado's Aerospace Engineering Sciences department is home to 37 tenure track, research, and instructional faculty, over 200 graduate students and 400 undergraduates. Our vibrant community of engineers and scientists tackle challenges in aerospace technology and science, focusing on Astrodynamics & Satellite Navigation Systems, Vehicle Systems, Bioastronautics, Structures & Material Systems, and Remote Sensing, Earth & Space Sciences.
CU-Boulder's Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences is nationally known for teaching and research that address both challenges and opportunities facing the aerospace profession. Students work extensively on challenging, hands-on experiments in the Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory and design projects alongside expert faculty in the department's world-class research centers. CU aerospace alumni are working at top companies and research labs, including the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Johnson Space Center, The Boeing Company, and Lockheed Martin.
Mission Statement
We conduct world-class research and education programs devoted to the conception, design and utilization of aircraft and spacecraft systems that serve the aerospace needs of our 21st-century society.
Distinguishing Characteristics of our Department
Our Department is uniquely characterized by a blend of aeronautics, astronautics and science applications.
In our graduate education and research programs, we emphasize forefront aerospace technology development and the integration of engineering and science activities to solve critical problems in the earth and space sciences.
We provide an undergraduate experience characterized by rigorous preparation in mathematics and the engineering sciences, a hands-on experiential approach to learning, and an extensive emphasis on design in a systems context.
Our graduates are broadly educated, interdisciplinary, agile, team-oriented engineers and scientists with end-to-end mission and systems perspectives.
In the News
Winter 2009
ION Thurlow Award to Dennis Akos
AES Professor Dennis Akos has been awarded the Institute of Navigation Thurlow Award for 2009, based on his software radio research for satellite navigation. The purpose of the ION Thurlow Award is to recognize outstanding contributions to the science of navigation. It was created as a memorial in honor of Colonel Thomas L. Thurlow, U.S. Army Corps, a brilliant engineer, skillful pilot, and able officer who contributed significantly to the development and testing of navigation equipment and the training of navigators and pilots. See here for more details.
UCB Student-built Cube Satellite to Fly in Space
Hermes, a tiny satellite built by a team of UCB undergraduates (most of them aerospace majors) is one of three university satellites to be attached to a Taurus XL launch vehicle that also will launch NASA's Glory mission to study solar radiation. Part of a NASA space education initiative, Herme is scheduled for launch in November 2010. See Press Release.
AES Professor Penina Axelrad Wins College Service Award
The College of Engineering and Applied Science recognized Penny Axelrad's exemplary service by presenting her with the 2009 Max S. Peters Service Award at an event on Friday, 29 January 2010.
UCB Faculty, Students Sweep AIAA Space Research and Education Awards
At the January 2010 meeting of the American Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) held in Orlando, Florida, AES Chair Jeffrey M. Forbes and LASP Director Daniel Baker, plus three CU aerospace graduate students were honored with prestigious research awards. See Press Release for details.