Aerospace

Two main disciplines make up the aerospace industry: aeronautics, the study of flight, and astronautics, the study of travel beyond Earth's atmosphere. Within these divisions are a multitude of space, commercial, and military uses for moving vehicles through space. In the United States, the aerospace industry enjoys a close relationship with both public and private entities. For example, the government funds the space program overseen by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which contracts with many private companies to provide the specialized tools and programs necessary for defense systems, space technologies, and satellite communication. NASA also partners with companies—such as Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Sierra Space Corporation, and Space X—on commercial space initiatives. Both international and domestic companies are attracted to the U.S. aerospace market because it is the world's leader. Aerospace employs a highly skilled and diverse workforce, supporting more jobs than any other field. While scientific and technical workers are directly employed in aerospace, indirectly the industry provides jobs in many related fields including research, design, manufacture, operations, and maintenance. The Department of Labor reported that 63,800 aerospace engineers were employed in the United States in 2022, and approximately 509,480 workers were employed in the aerospace parts and manufacturing industry in 2023. During the Cold War the United States and the Soviet Union worked against each other in the race to space. Today, in the spirit of global connectedness, five national space agencies—those of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada—representing 15 countries are responsible for the International Space Station (ISS). The most significant flying machine created by humans to date, the ISS is an outer space research laboratory that has been continuously occupied by various crew members since 2000. More than 270 astronauts, cosmonauts, and spaceflight participants from over 20 countries have visited the space station. Studies onboard the ISS provide promise for breakthroughs in the fields of medicine, materials science, and physics, among others. A 2024 report by the professional services firm Deloitte forecasts steady growth for the aerospace industry. Higher geopolitical risks and global tensions were expected to support healthy levels of defense spending. Meanwhile, a record backlog existed for commercial aircraft, thanks in part to demand for fuel-efficient, next-generation aircraft and increasing oil prices. Innovations like unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, commonly known as "drones"), were expected to spur economic and employment growth in areas such as emergency management, agriculture, infrastructure inspections, photography, commerce, and military and surveillance. As of August 8, 2024, 785,827 drones had been registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. A total of 390,027 drones were slated for commercial or non-hobbyist applications. Some controversy surrounds the use of drones in the United States, where privacy advocates are pushing for restrictions on drone use to protect civil liberties. Concerns have also grown over airspace safety and the use of drones for illegal activities.