One Small Step: The History of Aerospace Engineering at Purdue University

Purdue University has played a leading role in providing the engineers who designed, built, tested, and flew the many aircraft and spacecraft that so changed human progress during the 20th century. It is estimated that Purdue has awarded 6% of all BS degrees in aerospace engineering, and 7% of all PhDs in the United States during the past 65 years. The University's alumni have led significant advances in research and development of aerospace technology, have headed major aerospace corporations and government agencies, and have established an amazing record for exploration of space. More than one third of all US manned space flights have had at least one crew member who was a Purdue engineering graduate (including the first and last men to step foot on the moon). The School of Aeronautics & Astronautics was founded as a separate school within the College of Engineering at Purdue University in 1945. The first edition of this book was published in 1995, at the time of the school's 50th anniversary. This corrected and expanded second edition brings the school's illustrious history up to date, and looks to Purdue's future in the sky and in space.

Professor Alten F. (Skip) Grandt Jr., is the Raisbeck Engineering Distinguished Professor of Engineering and Technology Integration at the Purdue School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. He began his career as a materials research engineer at the Air Force Materials Laboratory at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he worked for eight years. He joined the faculty of the Purdue University School of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1979 and was head of the school from 1985 to 1992.

Professor W. A. (Gus) Gustafson joined the Purdue School of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1960.

Professor L. T. Cargnino joined the Purdue School of Aeronautics and Astronautics in 1945, and taught until his retirement in 1984.