Aerospace
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:''This article is about the field of research and industry; for the corporation, see [[The Aerospace Corporation]]''
{{wiktionarypar|aerospace}}
'''Aerospace''' comprises the [[atmosphere]] of Earth and surrounding [[outer space|space]]. Typically the term is used to refer to the industry that researches, designs, manufactures, operates, and maintains vehicles moving through [[Aircraft|air]] and [[Space exploration|space]]. Aerospace is a very diverse field, with a multitude of commercial, industrial and military applications.
''Aerospace'' is not the same as ''[[airspace]],'' which is a term used to describe the physical air space directly above a location on the ground.
== Overview ==
In most industrial countries, the aerospace industry is a cooperation of public and private industries. For example, several countries have a [[space program]] under the command of the [[government]], such as [[NASA]] in the [[United States]], [[European Space Agency|ESA]] in [[Europe]], the [[Canadian Space Agency]] in [[Canada]], [[Indian Space Research Organisation]] in [[India]], [[Russian Federal Space Agency|RKA]] in [[Russia]] and [[China National Space Administration]] in [[China]]
Along with these public space programs, many companies produce technical tools and components such as [[spacecraft|spaceship]]s and [[satellites]]. Some known companies involved in space programs include [[Lockheed Martin]], [[Northrop Grumman]], [[EADS]], and [[Boeing]]. These companies are also involved in other areas of aerospace such as the construction of [[aircraft]]. Many countries have air transport companies, such as [[Air France]] and [[Air India]].
== History ==
{{main|History of aviation|Timeline of space exploration}}
The field of aerospace has been investigated for millennia but it can be said that modern aerospace began with the first powered flight at Kitty Hawk on [[December 16]], [[1903]], by the [[Wright brothers]]. From there, aerospace has grown to be one of the most exciting, diverse, and fast paced fields of today. From the [[hot-air balloon]]s of 18th century to the first wood-and-cloth plane of Wilbur and Orville Wright to the first manned mission to the moon on [[Apollo 11]] to the new and exciting aircraft being developed by companies like Boeing, [[Airbus]], and [[Bombardier]], aerospace has come a long way in a little over a century.
==Aerospace manufacturing==
{{main|Aerospace manufacturer}}
Aerospace manufacturing is a high technology industry that produces "aircraft, guided missiles, space vehicles, aircraft engines, propulsion units, and related parts," according to the [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] of the United States [http://www.bls.gov Web site]. Most of the industry is geared toward governmental work. For each original equipment manufacturer (OEM), the US government has assigned a [https://www.bpn.gov/bincs/begin_search.asp CAGE]code. These codes help to identify each manufacturer, repair facilities and other critical after market vendors in the aerospace industry.
In the [[European Union]], aerospace companies such as [[EADS]], [[BAE Systems]], [[Thales Group|Thales]], [[Dassault Group|Dassault]], [[Saab]] and [[Finmeccanica]] account for a large share of the global aerospace industry and research effort, with the [[European Space Agency]] as one of the largest consumers of aerospace technology and products.
In People's Republic of China, Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Shanghai, Shenyang and Nanchang are major research and manufacture centres of aerospace industry. China has developed extensive capability to design, test and produce military aircraft, missiles and space vehicles. However, despite the experimental model of Y-10, which was abolished in 1984, China is still developing its civil aerospace industry.
In [[India]], [[Bangalore]] is a major centre of aerospace industry, being the place where [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]], the [[National Aerospace Laboratories]] and [[Indian Space Research Organisation]] are headquartered. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is undertaking a project to send an orbiter to moon, due mid 2008. This project has been titled Chandrayaan (Moon Craft).
In [[Russia]], large aerospace companies like [[Oboronprom]] and the [[United Aircraft Building Corporation]] (encompassing [[Mikoyan]], [[Sukhoi]], [[Ilyushin]], [[Tupolev]], [[Yakovlev]], and [[Irkut]] which includes [[Beriev]]) are among the major global players in this industry.
In the [[United States]], the [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] and [[NASA]] are the two biggest consumers of aerospace technology and products. The Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States reported that the aerospace industry employed 444,000 wage and salary jobs in 2004. Most of those jobs were in Washington and California. The leading aerospace manufacturers in the world are [[Boeing]], [[United Technologies Corporation]], and [[Lockheed Martin Corp.]].
Important locations of the civil aerospace industry worldwide include [[Chicago]] ([[Boeing]]), [[Montreal]] in Canada ([[Bombardier]], [[Pratt & Whitney Canada]]), [[Toulouse]] in France and [[Hamburg]] in Germany (both [[Airbus]]/[[EADS]]), as well as [[São José dos Campos]], where Brazilian [[Embraer]] is based.
[[Pakistan]] is also undertaking advancements in the field of aerospace engineering. It is now fulfilling its needs in the guided missile technology. After the establishment of the [http://www.ist.edu.pk/ Institute of Space Technology], Pakistan is looking to advance in space technology as well as aircraft design and manufacturing.
The [[Aircraft parts industry]] was born out of the sale of second hand or used aircraft parts from the Aerospace Manufacturer sector. Within the United States there is a specific process that parts brokers or resellers must follow. This includes leveraging a certified repair station to overhaul and 'tag' a part. This certification guarantees that a part was repaired or overhauled to meet OEM specifications. Once a part is overhauled its value is determined from the supply and demand of the aerospace market. When an airline has an aircraft on the ground also known as an 'AOG', the part that the airline requires to get the plane back into service becomes invaluable. This can drive the market for specific parts. There are several online market places that assist with the commoditized selling of aircraft parts.
==See also==
* [[Aeronautics]]
* [[Astronautics]]
* [[Aerospace engineering]]
* [[Atmospheric reentry]]
* [[EUROAVIA]]
* [[General aviation]]
* [[Space exploration]]
* [[List of space agencies|Space agencies]]
* [[Spacecraft]]
* [[wikt:Appendix:Aviation, aerospace, and aeronautical terms|Wiktionary: Aviation, aerospace, and aeronautical terms]]
==External links==
* [http://www.suparco.gov.pk Space and Upper Atmosphere Reasearch Commission (Suparco)] [[Pakistan]]
* [http://www.isro.org Indian space Research Organization (ISRO)] [[India]]
* [http://www.nasa.gov National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)] - [[United States of America|U.S.]]
* [http://www.esa.int European Space Agency (ESA)] — [[European Union|E.U.]]
* [http://www.jaxa.jp/index_e.html Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)] — [[Japan]]
*[http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs006.htm BLS website on aerospace industry]
*[http://www.aia-aerospace.org/ Aerospace Industries Association]
*[http://www.aiaa.org/ American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics]
*[http://www.faa.gov/education_research/education/ Federal Aviation Administration]
* [http://www.aio.ir/ Iranian Aerospace Industries Organization]
* [http://www.ioonos.com/?LANG=EN Ioonos — YouSpace: Aerospace in Europe]
* [http://www.avmarkets.com Aerospace Marketplace]
* [http://www.av-tools.com Aerospace Parts and Tools]
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