Your path to space can start anywhere.
Find a growing collection of ideas and resources for taking your next step in STEM and aerospace.
CONTINUE LEARNING
KEEP EXPLORING.
Want to keep learning? Here are some books, videos, and websites that helped me explore aerospace.
BOOKS
Introduction to Flight — John D. Anderson Jr.
Rocket Boys — Homer Hickam
Fundamentals of Aerodynamics — John D. Anderson Jr.
Ignition! — John D. Clark
Flight Dynamics — Robert F. Stengel
CHALLENGE YOURSELF
PUT WHAT YOU LEARN TO THE TEST.
Competitions give students a chance to turn aerospace ideas into real engineering challenges — designing, building, testing, working with a team, and learning from the results.
AMERICAN ROCKETRY CHALLENGE — A hands-on rocketry competition where middle and high school students design, build, test, and launch model rockets.
NASA TECHRISE STUDENT CHALLENGE — A NASA student challenge where teams develop science and technology experiment ideas for flight testing.
NASA STUDENT LAUNCH · NASA DREAM WITH US · CONRAD CHALLENGE — Explore these student opportunities and check each official program website for current categories, eligibility, requirements, and dates.
Programs, eligibility, requirements, and application dates can change. Always check the official program website for current information.
SUMMER AEROSPACE & ENGINEERING EXPERIENCES
TAKE YOUR INTEREST FURTHER.
Explore universities with aerospace engineering programs and discover what studying aerospace could look like beyond high school.
TEXAS A&M CAMP SOAR — A summer aerospace engineering experience for rising high school juniors and seniors that includes technical learning, hands-on design projects, and exposure to Texas A&M aerospace research and facilities.
SPACE CENTER HOUSTON — Explorer Camps and Space Center U offer hands-on experiences in space, science, engineering, and human spaceflight.
LONGHORN ENGINEERING SUMMER CAMP — The University of Texas at Austin / Cockrell School of Engineering.
MY INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING (MITE) — Another UT Austin engineering program researched by Santi.
Check the official program website for current age or grade requirements, cost, application dates, and availability.
EXPLORE AEROSPACE ENGINEERING IN COLLEGE
SEE WHERE AEROSPACE CAN TAKE YOU.
If you’re interested in studying aerospace in college, these universities are a good place to start exploring different programs and opportunities. Take a look at what they offer and see what interests you.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech)
Purdue University
University of Michigan
California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
Stanford University
University of Maryland
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The University of Texas at Austin
Texas A&M University
WHEN EXPLORING A PROGRAM, ASK:
What aerospace courses are offered? What design teams or student organizations can I join? What research areas interest me? What laboratories and facilities are available? What kinds of projects do students build?
START HERE. THEN GO FURTHER.
CURIOSITY IS THE FIRST STEP.
EXPLORE → WATCH → BUILD → GO BEYOND
Explore: Learn the ideas behind aerospace. Watch: See aerospace concepts explained. Build: Try an engineering challenge. Go Beyond: Explore resources and opportunities beyond RocketRoots.
You do not have to know exactly where aerospace will take you. Start with something that interests you and keep exploring.
WHAT WILL YOU EXPLORE NEXT?
Pick a resource, learn something new, try a challenge, or explore a program. Every next step starts with curiosity.