The word aerospace originated from the combination of aeronautics and space flight. But what exactly is the aerospace industry? When did it come into being and what kinds of products does it consist of? Read on to find out everything you’ll need to know about aerospace industries.
A brief history
The aerospace industry is a group of manufacturing companies that produce every type of vehicle used for flight. These can range from jets to missiles to shuttles. The industry also includes products related to these vehicles such as guidance and control systems on the ground, or seats and lights on an aircraft.
The origins of flight can be dated back to the Wright Brothers in 1903. However, this industry showed a boom during the 1950s when companies began to create various space flight equipment.
The Apollo Program started in 1961 which began the development and manufacturing of space vehicles as a major part of aerospace industries. At the end of the 20th century, many companies around the world had begun manufacturing satellites and rockets.
Although the initial use of spacecraft was for exploring space and for other military purposes, these vehicles proved to be useful in different fields such as navigation, meteorology, and telecommunications.
Importance of the industry
Currently, there are more than forty countries involved in aerospace production in some form. The largest aerospace industry is found in America and it employs about 900,000 individuals. The American company Boeing is the lead manufacturer for commercial planes and military aircraft. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are also notable aerospace manufacturers around the world.
Canadian and European aerospace industries also take up a significant portion of the global aerospace industry. This industry employs people from all around the world.
Development and manufacturing
Research and development are a huge part of aerospace industries as it requires a high amount of expenses. Development takes many resources and can cost billions of dollars. Aerospace products also require a lot of time for completion. They can take up to a decade, or even more, and will consist of extensive research and equipment.
Developing new vehicles is very costly and time taking, which is why many companies dedicate their resources and time to improving products that already exist. They may redesign aerospace products to be more fuel-efficient or exhibit better aerodynamics.
The design of a vehicle starts with testing parameters and creating a model on state-of-the-art computing systems. A lot of time and attention is given to this step since there is not much room for errors. All parameters and details of the vehicle must be completely accurate.  
Next, engineers will build an up to scale model of the vehicle and run a series of tests on it. After the vehicle passes all necessary tests, engineers will create real-life prototypes and test them as well. Each part of the vehicle such as engines, navigational systems, and all other equipment are thoroughly tested.
When all crucial aspects of the vehicle have been finalized it can be manufactured on a large scale. Usually, parts are built in different parts of the world and put together in one place.

List of major aerospace products
There are a whole bunch of products that fall in aerospace industries however they are divided into four main categories according to their purpose. The first category is aircraft and jet engines which consists of all types of aircraft such as passenger transport, cargo transport, business, recreation, helicopters, and military aircraft. The category also consists of all related engines.
The second category is missiles which include a huge variety built mainly for military use. The third category is spacecraft and launch vehicles which include space shuttles, artificial satellites, and all types of rockets.
The last category is flight equipment and navigational aids that consist of every piece of equipment for on-board and ground systems. The purpose of these systems is to make flight safe, efficient, and comfortable.
Following is a detailed look into each of the four categories:
Aircraft and Jet Engines
Aircraft involve those used for military aircraft, commercial aircraft, and general aviation along with their jet engines. This category has the largest amount of sales in the entire industry. Initially, military aircraft production was the most prominent in the category, but commercial jets came into the picture as well in the 20th century.
Military aircraft includes helicopters, troop transports, attack aircraft, fighter jets, and bombers, each with its own purpose. The largest manufacturers of military aircraft are Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.
Commercial aircraft pertains to jet planes found in all commercial airlines. There are two main classifications of these types of aircraft which are narrow-body and wide-body. The first wide-body jet was introduced in 1970 and was called the Boeing 747. Narrow-body jets are smaller and seat fewer passengers and there are also regional jets that seat even fewer people.
General aviation aircraft include recreational airplanes, corporate airplanes, agricultural spray planes, and helicopters for public services such as patrol, ambulance, and police.
Jet engines are what power all aircraft and they are also a huge part of the aerospace industry. There are three major types of jet engines which are turboprop, turbofan, and turbojet. Turboprop engines get their drive from the engine’s propeller while turbofan engines combine different air sources to rotate. Turbojet engines are driven by burning fuel and compressed air.
Some of the largest jet engine manufacturers today are General Electric and Pratt & Whitney. They are known for providing large-sized jet engines.
Missiles
Missiles are used for military purposes and the two major types are surface-fired missiles and air-launched missiles. Missiles contain intricate guidance systems and propulsion systems.
Surface-fired missiles are launched from sea or land and they are further divided into two categories. These missiles can either be fired into the air or towards a target in the sea. There are large intercontinental ballistic missiles termed as ICMSs that have a vast range and smaller sized missiles which have lower ranges.
The largest ICBM known today can reach a target almost 15,000 kilometers away. Smaller missiles are used by troops to target enemies. Some missiles can even reach submarines deep into the ocean. All these types of missiles are called surface-to-surface missiles.
The other type, surface-to-air missiles, are used to destroy targets in the air. These targets can be airplanes or missiles.
Air-launched missiles, on the other hand, are emitted from fighter aircraft. These have a much shorter range than surface-fired missiles. Air-launched missiles are also divided into two categories. One is the air-to-air missile which is launched through an aircraft and targets other aircraft by using heat-seeking systems. The other type is air-to-surface missiles which target the ground from flying aircraft through location systems such as GPS.
Spacecraft and Launch Vehicles
Space exploration has also taken up a vast portion of the aerospace industry. This category includes unmanned spacecraft such as space shuttles, satellites, and launch vehicles.
Space shuttles consist of three major components which are the orbiter, external fuel tank, and the propulsion system which has two rocket boosters and three engines. The space shuttle cannot be termed entirely as an unmanned aircraft because it is piloted.
A space shuttle is made to last very long, almost more than 100 missions. The biggest space shuttle companies are Unites Space Alliance and NASA, which design, construct, and maintain various space shuttles.
Satellites are used for communication and they orbit the Earth. These satellites transmit radio signals for different wireless communication applications such as television broadcasting or cellular devices.
There are also surveillance satellites used for military and defense purposes. These systems consist of a network of satellites that can monitor activities around the globe. NASA uses satellites for researching Earth, planets, moons, galaxies, and stars.
Hughes Space and Communications, Lockheed and Martin, and Alcatel are some of the largest satellite manufacturers today. They build and maintain satellites for all kinds of applications whether private or government.
This aerospace category also includes launch vehicles, which are rockets used to propel spacecraft into space. Spacecraft need a velocity of almost 30,000 kilometers per hour to escape the Earth’s atmosphere and to obtain this much speed and power the rockets need two or more engines.
Flight Equipment and Navigational Aids
There are multiple pieces of equipment that go into creating aircraft. Facilities on the ground that serve as flight support also require state-of-the-art equipment and systems for operation.
Inside a shuttle orbiter, there are over two thousand controls and display screens in the flight compartment that drive and monitor the vehicle. There is also the need for radar systems, navigation systems, landing gear, cabin pressure control, data recorders, seating, electricity and lighting, waste management, and more.
Different firms offer specific in-flight equipment services or a combination of a few. There are also companies that specialize in missile guidance technologies such as infrared heat-seeking devices or digital navigation systems.
Ground facilities require a range of equipment such as radios, radars, air traffic control systems, command and control systems, etc. Some companies also specialize in providing complex remote-control systems that let professionals control spacecraft from the ground. All these applications require top-notch technology and services to ensure safe and secure flight support and control.
Conclusion
The aerospace industry is thus one of the major industries of the world. It consists of a wide range of products that include flight vehicles, vehicle equipment, and ground control systems.