USC Viterbi Department of Astronautical Engineering

Department of Astronautical Engineering

Advanced Research and Educational Training for the Global Space Enterprise

Astronautical Engineering at USC Viterbi

Astronautical Engineering encompasses the dynamic and cutting-edge fields of advanced science and space technology. Space engineers design, build and operate rockets and missiles, space launchers, communications and direct broadcasting satellites, space navigational systems, remote sensing and reconnaissance satellites, space vehicles for human spaceflight, and planetary probes.

There is no better academic major than Astronautical Engineering in which to obtain the education and to acquire the skills needed for space engineers.

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Space Shuttle
Astronauts

Trojans in Space

Do you know how many Trojan astronauts were in space?
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Astronautical Engineering News

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USC Viterbi Hosts Honeywell Hypersonics & Emerging Technologies Industry Day
USC Viterbi Hosts Honeywell Hypersonics & Emerging Technologies Industry Day

Leading industry representatives, academics and students gathered on campus to discuss the future of hypersonic technology.

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Senior Design Projects Tackle Today’s Top Engineering Problems
Senior Design Projects Tackle Today’s Top Engineering Problems

Students in the USC Department of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering apply their learning to address some of the most pressing technological challenges facing industry today.

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USC Researcher Explores Human-AI Collaboration for Future Space Missions
USC Researcher Explores Human-AI Collaboration for Future Space Missions

Ulubilge Ulusoy, a PhD candidate in the USC Department of Astronautical Engineering (ASTE), researches how astronauts and AI can learn to collaborate more effectively for deep space missions.

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Undergraduate Faith Colon Wins Prestigious AIAA Scholarship
Undergraduate Faith Colon Wins Prestigious AIAA Scholarship

The USC Viterbi junior received the Lockheed Martin Marillyn Hewson Scholarship for excellence in astronautical engineering

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USC Student Rocket Group Shatters International Amateur Space Record
USC Student Rocket Group Shatters International Amateur Space Record

Aftershock II is believed to be the world’s first civilian-built rocket to reach an altitude of 470,000 feet.

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Astronautical Engineering in Media

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Space.com: Space.com: Electric spacecraft propulsion may soon take a leap, thanks to new supercomputer
Space.com: Space.com: Electric spacecraft propulsion may soon take a leap, thanks to new supercomputer

A report on a research project conducted by Professor Joseph Wang (USC) and Professor Chen Cui (University of Virginia)

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Reuters: Trump’s NASA pick
Reuters: Trump’s NASA pick

Garrett Reisman was interviewed about the potential for Jared Isaacman to lead NASA.

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Fast Company: Meet the USC (Viterbi) Rocket Club that Shattered a World Altitude Record
Fast Company: Meet the USC (Viterbi) Rocket Club that Shattered a World Altitude Record

This profile story details the history of RPL, includes mention alumni space startups as well as SERC as part of the USC Viterbi space ecosystem.

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NBC: Bright Spot–USC Students Launch Rocket
NBC: Bright Spot–USC Students Launch Rocket

USC RPL students were featured on local NBC news for their recent record-breaking launch.

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Space.com: USC students set world record with high-flying rocket launch (video) News

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Published on February 23rd, 2017Last updated on January 28th, 2025