Project 1.1.

1 Aerospace Evolution
Introduction
The aerospace industry was born with the transformation of ancient myth to the
reality of powered human flight in 1903. The aerospace industry began modestly
then developed rapidly into a multibillion dollar global industry through the work of
inspired scientists, engineers, and dreamers. Todays aerospace industry consists of
both government and privet entities dedicated to the research, development, and
production of systems relating to the travel of vehicles in earths atmosphere and
surrounding space.

In this activity your class will work as a research team to gather information and
create an aerospace evolution documentary, relating to the major advances within
the aerospace industry. Research should begin with the first successful human
powered flight in 1903 and conclude with current aerospace research and
development.

Equipment
Computer with video editing or Microsoft PowerPoint software
Engineering notebook

Procedure
In this activity you will work within a research team lead by your teacher to develop
an aerospace evolution documentary. Within the research team you will be
responsible for the contribution of research artifacts relating to the cause and effect
of a major aerospace industry milestone.

1. On your own, without conducting research, list ten major aerospace industry
advances or accomplishments from 1903 to present day.
1. The First Female Pilot 6. SR-71 flies over MACH 3+
2. The First Commercial Flight 7. July 20th, 1969, First Moon Landing
3. The First Jet Engine 8. 1957, Sputnik is launched
4. The First Wide-Body Plane 9. B-2 Spirit is designed dramatically
increasing aircraft warfare
capabilities
5. The First Solar-Powered Cross 10. Space X lands a rocket face up
Continental Flight

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2. Form a research discussing group with 3 to 5 other classmates.
3. Within your research discussion group each member will discuss and explain
their list of ten aerospace industry advances or accomplishments. During the
discussion members of the group should ask the following questions:
a. How did the aerospace advancement/ achievement occur what were the
driving factors that pushed for the advancement?
b. What previous aerospace advances made the advancement /
achievement possible?
c. How did the aerospace advancement / achievement lead to future
aerospace advancements and achievements.
4. As a research discussion group identify your groups twenty most significant
aerospace advances / achievements.
1. The First Solar-Powered Cross 11. 1936 Lockheed Martin, First
Continental Flight pressurized cabin
2. The First Wide-Body Plane 12. October 3rd, 1942, first
successful flight of the V-2
Rocket
3. The First Jet Engine 13 Voyager 2 encounters Uranus
4. The First Commercial Flight 14. First lighter-than-air flight
5. SR-71 flies over MACH 3+ 15. 2008, Lockheed makes first
VTOL capable F-35B
6. July 20th, 1969, First Moon 16. February 14th 1980, Solar
Landing Maximum studies the sun in
detail
7. July 4th, 1997, First Mars 17. May 17th, 1974, first
Landing geosynchronous weather
satellite launched
8. First Swept Wing Design 18. Skylab, unmanned space
station launched
9. Messerschmitt Me 262, first jet 19. August 31st, 1966, first V/STOL
powered military plane aircraft produced
10. Gossamer Albatross, first 20. March 18th, 1965, Alexei
human powered plane Leonov takes first walk in
space.
5. Form a classroom discussion group.
6. Within the classroom discussion group each research discussion group will
explain their list of twenty significant aerospace advances and achievements.
7. As a classroom discussion group a list of the top advances and achievements
will be generated through open discussion with in the classroom discussion
group. The finalized list should consist of a total number of advances equaling
the total number of members with in the class discussion group.

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 8. From the classroom discussion group generated list select an advancement or
achievement that interests you. No achievement or advancement can be
selected twice.
9. Selected advancement or achievement: The First Pressurized Cabin
10. Individually conduct research on your selected advancement or achievement.
Research should include the following information:
a. Date of advancement or achievement milestone
b. Credited origination
c. Credited individuals
d. Detailed description of advancement or achievement
e. Video or image of advancement or achievement
f. Media coverage of advancement or achievement
g. Description of world events at the time of advancement or achievement
h. Description of major advancements relation to science, technology, and
engineering that made the advancement or achievement possible.
i. Description of how the advancement or achievement affected future
aerospace advancement or achievement.
11. Combine research findings into a 5 minute video or Microsoft PowerPoint
documentary illustrating the importance of the advancement or achievement.
The documentary should contain all research findings.
12. As a classroom research group, create a video or Microsoft PowerPoint
documentary by combining all individual achievement and advancement
documentaries into a single format that allows for continues chronological
viewing as well as selection of individual achievement and advancement viewing.
13. As a class view the aerospace evolution documentary in chronological order.

Conclusion
1. Does a common them or themes exist relating to the achievement and
advancement of the aerospace industry?
Yes, I believe that because one achievement was made, more have been
able to stem from them and improve the sciences of flight.
2. List the major influences on the aerospace industry and explain their significance.
Aerospace exploration has benefited more than just the technology their
achievements were designed for. For example, duct tape, aluminum
skin/foil, weapon simplifications, and parachutes were all developments
made in the aerospace industry before they made their debut in the
commercial market.
3. Explain the cause and effect relationship of the aerospace industry.
Because one thing is achieved, such as breaking the sound barrier,
multiple industries can thus take that data and apply it to existing/future

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existing designs to improve the overall effectiveness of their goal. For
example, an automotive designer using aircraft aerodynamic sciences to
help the car become more efficient.

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