The aerospace industry is the complex of manufacturing concerns engaged in the production of flight vehicles , including unpowered gliders and sailplanes , lighter than air - craft , ground - effect machines , heavier than air craft of both fixed - wing and rotary - wing varieties , military missiles , space launch vehicles , and manned or unmanned spacecraft ; propulsion systems and other thrusting devices ; on board equipment essential to the design purpose of the flight vehicle ; and ground - based support equipment needed for the operation and maintenance of the flight vehicle 航天工业是一个综合制造行业，从事各种飞行器的生产，包括：各种无动力滑翔机，轻于空气的飞行器，地面效应机械设备，重于空气的各种固定和旋转机翼飞行器，军用导弹，太空发射器，载人或无人飞行器，推进系统或其他助推设备，对飞行器的设计至关重要的舱内设备，控制和维护飞行器的地面设备。
