The words ‘Aerospace’ and ‘Aviation’ have different meanings. While the former is independent, the latter is totally dependent on the former.
Aerospace refers to the earth’s atmosphere and the space beyond it (The World Book Encyclopedia, Vol.18). Aviation is only related to aircraft. The word ‘aircraft’ includes aero planes, airships, balloons, helicopters and gliders. Aviation is so totally dependent on aerospace that its process is called the ‘aerospace industry’ (The World Book Encyclopedia, Vol.1).
Technology in both aviation and aerospace has proved to be of great advantage to mankind over the years.
Aviation has revolutionized the life of man. Planes operate between a dense network of major world cities, ferrying people and cargo to their destinations in a very short span of time; operating under the name ‘airline’ they may extend from small, light planes to huge jumbo jets that have the capacity to hold hundreds of people. Almost all nations today have a minimum of one airline which is mostly state-owned. Airlines also carry cargo – a small amount in passenger aircraft, and the bulk in separate cargo planes. Commuter airlines provide connecting flights to large airports, operating light planes that can hold a small number of passengers. Modern businesses possess their own light planes to transport their executives. Light planes and helicopters are used to ferry relief materials in times of floods, forest fires and earthquakes, thereby greatly alleviating human suffering. Helicopters and small planes are used to transport food and medicine to needy people living in the remotest islands and the densest forests, for example, the Australian ‘Royal Flying Doctor Service’ provides medicine and medical assistance to those living in faraway outback areas. Helicopters are widely used by police to monitor traffic and assist in keeping law and order. Aviation has changed the manner in which wars are fought – modern wars involve jet fighters, bombers and helicopters having swift and awesome striking power with ample support from massive supply jet transports. Aviation provides a huge vista of employment. Manufacture of aircraft, spacecraft, missiles, components and related electronic equipment provides employment to hundreds of thousands of people. Added to them are those who operate these aircraft, those who maintain and repair them, freight forwarders of air cargo, food service companies that supply meals on flights, lawyers who handle cases related to air law, and insurance brokers who provide flight insurance (The World Book Encyclopedia, Vol.1).
In aerospace, technology has helped man conduct an increasing amount of aerospace exploration to learn more about the earth, moon, sun, stars, planets, galaxies, how our earth relates with the rest of the universe, and if other intelligent life forms exist in the universe. Information about this has been gathered by manned and unmanned space vehicles that continually venture further into aerospace. Aerospace exploration began in 1926 when U.S. scientist Robert H. Goddard launched the world’s first rocket. Ever since U.S. astronaut Neil A. Armstrong first walked on the moon in 1969, humans have been regular visitors to it. Scientists have overcome the hazards of living in space, enabling astronauts to live in space stations for long periods of time (The World Book Encyclopedia, Vol.18). The latest achievements in this regard have been Sunita Williams’ record breaking (188 days plus) stay at the International Space Station earlier this year plus the U.S. Space Shuttle ‘Endeavor’ which landed this month after completing a 14-day mission to the International Space Station. Finally, easily the most significant advantage to man has been the launching of commercial satellites that have revolutionized communications services (The World Book Encyclopedia, Vol.18).
Man has much more to learn about aerospace. A new planet (number 10) has recently been discovered named ‘Sedna.’ Life in other parts of the universe other than earth (we have so far found Mars to be the most likely) continues to be a possibility. Aerospace contains many secrets that we have yet to unlock, possibilities that could change life as we know it forever. It makes one thing very clear though – man and his aviation are puny things when compared to the enormous, mystifying, mighty, all-encompassing aerospace.
References
- “Aviation.” The World Book Encyclopedia. International ed. 1996. Vol 1, pp 878-887.
- “Space Exploration.” The World Book Encyclopedia. International ed. 1996. Vol 18, pp 128-162.