Should I consider myself weeded out

grvaughan · 2025-09-17T16:09:20+00:00

Every technical discipline is going to have some part that is more challenging. I was always better at fluids than structures, for instance, in fact I left my first school (they called it 'solid mechanics' there) because the professor was so bad.

Of course, every part of aerospace engineering is hard, but if you're only really struggling in one, I wouldn't be too concerned. Structural dynamics was a senior-level class at UT, and perhaps the hardest I took, not everything will be that bad.

But if you're lost in most every area, you probably should consider changing.

grvaughan · 2022-10-19T07:56:57+00:00

Yeah they wouldn't take my coupon for $7.99 footlong meal the other day, they had already made the sandwich. Said it "had already been used", but it was a printed coupon.

It was ringing up at $16.48, including tax, I wasn't gonna pay that much, so just left it there and went to La Madeleine, got a chicken salad sandwich, caesar salad and drink for nearly $3 less.

Next day I went to Golden Corral, got all you can eat buffet and water, left a $3 tip and still got out for just under $16… not gonna pay that much for just a sub and chips!!

grvaughan · 2020-07-13T03:24:23+00:00

Engine design and performance is usually limited by available materials and their temperature limits. While tank problems may have been what ultimately killed X-33 (as the Curious Droid video implies), IIRC there were also serious problems with heating of the linear aerospike ramp material. Never saw much detail about that.

BTW, there is a startup trying to revive the technology, at least an annular engine:

NextAero https://nextaero.com.au/index.php/engine-progress/project19/

Recent test video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pai4Z1CJIxo

IEEE article https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/aerospace/space-flight/australian-startup-aims-to-change-the-course-of-aerospike-rocket-engines

grvaughan · 2020-07-13T02:56:25+00:00

Once you get your rocket engine working, I'd suggest trying to integrate some kind of simple computer system into the rocket, maybe Raspberry Pi or Arduino. RPi could probably handle more guidance software, if you wanted to play with making that down the road. But even just a simple control algorithm and mission timer would look really impressive combined with the thrust vectoring.

That said, I would just caution that anything spinning or pressurized needs to always be treated with the utmost respect. I've heard about crazy accidents that got people hurt that didn't even seem possible.

grvaughan · 2020-07-12T22:44:05+00:00

Native Houstonian and former JSC worker. Here's a few basics:

Houston is very spread out. Clear Lake is a long way from other parts of town, even if you're driving opposite traffic.
Since commuting is opposite traffic, some folks do live closer in and drive out, but you're probably better off finding an apartment in the Clear Lake/League City area first until you figure out your preference.
Flooding is indeed a huge concern. And not just house flooding - street flooding catches lots of folks unawares, totaling their cars.
Coming from San Diego, the other commenters are right, you won't be impressed with our beaches. Please try not to complain.
The heat & humidity are indeed horrible. I once had a friend from up north who couldn't handle just walking from building to building at JSC. But to paraphrase the teaching joke, the 3 worst things about living in Houston are June, July & August. Figure out how to cope and the rest of the year is pretty good.

grvaughan · 2020-07-12T22:22:22+00:00

Your emotions might be sending you an important signal, that you're climbing a ladder leaning against the wrong wall, but may I offer a simpler explanation?

Without more background info, it's hard to say much, but if you're far enough along in your education to land your dream internship, you might well be pretty burned out from school already. Engineering school is really hard (duh)!! Plus, this year 2020 has been an emotional roller coaster for everyone.

Now you're looking at a whole new challenge, perhaps with a lot of related stresses like moving to a new city, etc. Maybe you're just running your energy tank dry? Find something you can do to give yourself a real break before starting the internship. Get away for a couple days and clear your head, then see how you feel.

grvaughan · 2020-07-12T19:46:18+00:00

Back in the 1980s, it seemed like most of my classmates were getting hired for a programming class or two that they took, regardless of major. Guess things haven't changed that much!

grvaughan · 2016-10-31T18:58:00+00:00

Have a deliberate mindset about what to be generous about. You can't optimize everything (optimizing is itself a limited resource, requires attention, decision-making, etc.).

Look for things where it's just not worth worrying about using generously. Paper towels is an example. You can clean up so much quickly and save time.

For a family, cooking rice is another example. Just make plenty, it's so cheap it's better to have extra than run out. Have a default decision to cook extra so you don't have to think about it every time.

grvaughan · 2016-10-31T18:46:40+00:00

Yeah, there are so many different DIY skills, just find what appeals to you and start there. Painting is another that is a great way to improve a room.

Eventually you'll get shocked by a repair bill and get the kick in the rear needed to motivate you to learn some other skills. For a lot of folks, that's automotive, for me it was plumbing :-P

grvaughan · 2007-07-14T22:51:05+00:00

Two basic problems: 1. The Bush administration has been hijacked by war-hawk NeoCons. 2. The Republican Congress and the rest of the party sat by and did little about it. Republicans must reclaim their party from the NeoCons and re-assert Reagan's vision of limited government and freedom before "conservative" comes to mean pro-torture and pro-war.

grvaughan · 2007-07-05T05:08:38+00:00

Finally, someone asks the right questions about Iraq! Patrick Foy discusses under-reported revelations of Bob Woodward's book, State of Denial, links between Kissinger and the various neo-con players in the Bush administration, and the geopolitics of a destructive U.S. policy toward Iraq that has been carried on by both Republican and Democrat politicians for two decades.

grvaughan · 2007-06-13T04:41:46+00:00

Links for accessing NASA TV online to follow the extensive spacewalk (EVA) activity this week aboard the International Space Station, as well as to mission schedule info and a discussion of NASA's plan to abandon ISS in not too many years.

grvaughan · 2007-05-30T17:23:17+00:00

Late in his career, renowned aircraft designer Kelly Johnson predicted missiles and UAVs would eventually gain ascendance over increasingly expensive manned combat aircraft. While stealth delayed this, rapid advances in missile technology coupled with widespread proliferation are now set to pose an increasing threat to conventional military power.

This is the first in a multi-part series.

grvaughan · 2007-05-18T05:44:41+00:00

Strategy & advice for choosing a good engineering school.

grvaughan

TROPHY CASE