Explore the science, technology, and engineering of flight and space through hands-on activities such as designing aircraft, building and launching rockets, and investigating aerospace careers.
Aerospace covers the study of flight within Earth’s atmosphere and beyond. It also includes vehicles and technology used to travel into the Earth’s atmosphere and outer space.
What can you do?
In the aerospace project, you can:
- Build and launch a rocket.
- Design an airplane or even fly your own hot-air balloon.
- Explore the principles of flight, including Bernoulli's Principle.
- Learn important safety techniques for flying rockets and airplanes.
- Experiment with different aircraft designs and test how changes affect flight.
- Discover how weather, wind and air pressure impact flying conditions.
- Practice problem-solving and engineering skills through hands-on challenges.
- Explore careers connected to aviation, aerospace engineering, and space exploration.
Learn about aerospace engineering by doing hands-on activities like these and more. Working on a team or by yourself, you may even discover your future career!
Project information
Get started with 4-H'ers in your area
- Contact your local 4-H office for more info.
Get started on your own
- Begin your project learning with the aerospace project resource guide.
- Reflect on your project and what you've learned using 4-H record keeping.
- NASA space place
- Aerospace education on YouTube
- Climate Kids
Videos resources on aerospace
Ways to get involved
Visit the Bell Museum and attend a planetarium show to learn about space, stars, and planets.
Explore historic aircraft at the Wings of the North Air Museum and learn how airplanes have evolved.
Build and launch a model rocket (e.g., an Estes Rocket), then record and analyze its flight performance.
Visit a local airport and interview a pilot, mechanic, or air traffic controller about their career and the science of flight.
Join a local Civil Air Patrol squadron or attend an aerospace event to gain hands-on experience with aviation and aerospace topics.
Project opportunities near you
Get in touch with your local 4-H office to learn about aerospace project events and activities in your area.
Take your project learning beyond 4-H
Aerospace college majors
College majors that the University of Minnesota offers:
Careers in aerospace
Aerospace engineer
Pilot
Astronaut
Air traffic controller
Aircraft mechanic
Satellite systems engineer
Astrophysicist
You don't have to be an expert
Your role is to help youth explore their interests, ask questions, find reliable information and connect with people and resources. NASA, museums, universities, aviation organizations and local STEM professionals can provide excellent resources and expertise.
Interested in getting involved as an aerospace project volunteer?
Contact your local 4-H office or learn more about volunteering in 4-H.
Resources for supporting youth in aerospace
- Junior aerospace lesson series in the youth development curriculum library
- Aerospace Adventures Curriculum Series-Wisconsin 4-H
- Utah Discover 4-H Curriculum, School and 4-H Mission to Mars
- NASA STEM resources
- NASA learning resources for students grades 9-12
- NASA/JPL education resources
- Local aviation and aerospace organizations
- Local robotics and drone programs
Fair information
What does it mean to show at the fair?
For 4-H'ers, local and state showcase events (like the Minnesota State Fair) are not just fun events. They provide youth opportunities to exhibit the knowledge and skills they've gained throughout the year– and to continue their learning.
Contact your local 4-H office for aerospace project showcase opportunities near you.
Exhibit ideas and judging criteria
Your aerospace exhibit might include:
Build it: Model, prototype, rocket, aircraft, rover or satellite
Test it: Demonstration, experiment or engineering challenge
Investigate it: Research project, data analysis or scientific investigation
Design it: Solution to an aerospace or space-related problem
Explain it: Display, model, presentation or other way of communicating what you learned
There isn't just one right way to do an aerospace project! Choose something that interests you and show how you explored aerospace through your 4-H project.
Project progression
- Grades K-2, Explore: Discover aerospace through questions, models and simple hands-on activities.
Grades 3-6, Build and test: Build something, try it out and see what happens.
Grades 6-8, Investigate and improve: Collect data, solve problems and improve your design.
Grades 9 and up, Engineer and innovate: Conduct in-depth investigations, analyze data, design solutions and apply aerospace technology to real-world challenges.
Get exhibit ideas and find out what the judge is looking for in the evaluation sheet (Google Doc).
Reviewed in 2026