Aerospace Science

Aerospace Science instructors at R-MA are Air Force veterans who have retired from active duty.  The Academy’s highly motivated and experienced military instructors have diverse life experiences ranging from aviation to education.  Their job is to challenge young people to achieve their potential.

Aerospace Science 100: A Journey into Aviation History

This course focuses on the development of flight throughout the centuries.  It starts with ancient civilizations, then progresses through time to modern day.  The emphasis is on civilian and military contributions to aviation; the development, modernization, and transformation of the Air Force; and a brief astronomical and space exploration history.  It is interspersed with concise overviews of the principles of flight to include basic aeronautics, aircraft motion and control, flight power, and rockets.

AS-210:  The Science of Flight

The Science of Flight is a science course designed to acquaint the student with the aerospace environment, the human requirements of flight, principles of aircraft flight, and principles of navigation. The course begins with a discussion of the atmosphere and weather. After developing an understanding of the environment, how that environment affects flight is introduced. Discussions include the forces of lift, drag, thrust, and weight. Students also learn basic navigation including map reading, course plotting, and the effects of wind. The portion on the Human Requirements of Flight is a survey course on human physiology. Discussed here are the human circulatory system, the effects of acceleration and deceleration, and protective equipment.

Aerospace Science - 300:  Exploring Space

This course examines various aspects associated with space to include exploring, living, and working in space.  This section looks specifically at the benefits of space exploration to include technological and medical breakthroughs and the resulting byproducts from both.  It also covers the various organizations involved in creating, managing and training for space missions.  Lastly, hazards associated with space travel are covered to include the effects both on spacecraft and the human body.   Next, the space shuttle program and lessons learned from the two shuttle disasters are covered along with the various space stations.  The course continues with the development of robots and their use in space and closes with a look at the ongoing development of private industry entering space.

Aerospace Science – 410: Survival: Survive & Return

This course is a synthesis of the basic survival information found in Air Force Regulation 64-4 Survival Training. The survival instruction will provide training in skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary to successfully perform fundamental tasks needed for survival.   Survival also presents “good to know” information that would be useful in any situation.  The information is just as useful to an individual lost hunting or stranded in a snowstorm.

Aerospace Science – 420: World Geography: Building a Global Perspective

This course is a geography course designed to allow the students to explore and discover the processes that shape the earth, the relationships between people and environments, and the links between people and places. Through the study of geography, students will learn to see their world through many different perspectives.  Whether they are looking at global patterns or the finer details of neighborhood patterns they will develop valuable insights about the Earth, its people, and the many different kinds of relationships between them.