Rocket & Aviation Noise

Studying and mitigating impacts

of noise from rockets and aircraft

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Impact
  • Design quieter, more efficient aircraft/rockets
  • Assist in noise reduction around military bases and space flight centers
  • Protect people, structures, and wildlife from the impact of air travel and rocket launches
  • Help aviation and space flight companies comply with federal regulations to limit noise exposure for workers and the surrounding area
  • Reduce impact of vibrations on the launch structures and vehicles
RESPONSIBILITIES
  • Conduct noise tests
  • Design noise suppression systems
  • Analyze aeroacoustic data
  • Use computer software to predict noise levels
  • Ensure noise levels meet environmental and workplace safety standards
  • Integrate noise control into aircraft and rocket designs
  • Write reports and give presentations
SKILLS DEVELOPED
  • Sound measurement and monitoring 
  • Computer modeling and simulation 
  • Understanding of aerodynamics and propulsion acoustics
  • Problem-solving
  • Design of innovative solutions
  • Regulatory knowledge
  • Communication
  • Teamwork
WORK ENVIRONMENT
  • Work on teams with engineers and scientists
  • Field work for measurements
  • Computer work for data analysis and simulations
POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS
  • Aerospace and jet companies
  • Rocket companies
  • Space flight companies
  • Government & research organizations
    • Federal Aviation Administration
    • Air Force Research Laboratory
    • NASA
COLLEGE PATHWAYS
  • Select a major in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, or acoustics
  • Consider specialized coursework in aeroacoustics and  computational fluid dynamics
  • Find an internship working for an aerospace company, government research lab, or space agency
EXPLORE
  • Focus on key subjects: physics, math, and computer science
  • Seek opportunities for hands-on experience with technology
  • Start learning programming, e.g., MATLAB, Python, COMSOL
  • Explore online resources to learn about aeroacoustics
  • Use phone apps or other equipment to measure sound levels and experiment with how to reduce the noise

Learn more

See also:

Industrial Noise, Noise Monitoring

 

Professional Organizations
Read about acousticians in the field:
Read about the field in Acoustics Today:
Links:

 

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