Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences
Located in the beautiful city of Boulder, the University of Colorado's Aerospace Engineering Sciences department is home to 36 tenure track, research, and instructional faculty, over 250 graduate students and more than 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
Our mission is to provide quality education, including hands-on learning, and to conduct foremost research in aerospace engineering sciences. We accomplish these goals through fundamental and multidisciplinary research and by preparing aerospace engineering students to meet the needs of our 21st-century society through the conception, design, and application of aerial and spacecraft systems.
Distinguishing Characteristics of our Department
The 2010 National Research Council (NRC) Assessment of PhD programs ranks the Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at CU-Boulder among the top four schools in the nation based on quality of program. Our Department is uniquely characterized by a blend of aeronautics, astronautics and science applications. More
In the News
Spring 2013
AES Senior Instructor Donna Gerren has been appointed Academic Board Chair of the Society of Allied Weight Engineers.
CU-Boulder's Design, Build, Fly (DBF) team took an impressive 5th place (out of 81 entries) in April at the 2012/2013 AIAA DBF international competition in Tucson, AZ. Faculty advisors are Professors Brian Agrow and Donna Gerren.
AES Professor Scott Palo's student team was selected by NASA in 2013 to design and build a flight-ready CubeSat satellite. The small, "bread loaf-size" satellite will be awarded a launch opportunity by NASA equivalent to roughly $300,000. See here for a full press release.
Colorado legislators officially recognized March 25 as Colorado Aerospace Day with a joint resolution passed by the House and the Senate on March 25, 2013. The Colorado Space Coalition has produced a short video of last Monday's highlights, which you can view here.
Professor George Born's past and continuing contributions to the University of Colorado were recognized by a Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award, special category, from the College of Engineering and Applied Science.