As　the　key　component　of　precision　ultra-precision　machine　tools,　the　aerostatic　spindle　is　characterized　by　high　rotary　accuracy,　smooth　operation,　less　vibration　and　noise　than　conventional　bearings,　and　less　temperature　rise　at　high-speed　rotation.　However,　it　has　poor　stiffness　and　load-bearing　capacity.　Therefore,　it　is　necessary　to　systematically　summarize　and　analyze　the　existing　important　research　results　of　aerostatic　spindles.　Reviewing　the　historical　development　and　research　results　of　aerostatic　spindles,　the　primary　research　aims　to　improve　the　load　capacity　and　stiffness,　dynamic/static　characteristics　and　stability　of　aerostatic　spindles　by　improving　the　Reynolds　equation　and　optimizing　the　structural　parameters.　At　the　same　time,　the　microscale　characteristics　have　also　become　a　research　hotspot,　and　the　research　results　show　that　the　microscale　characteristics　influence　the　load　carrying　capacity　and　stiffness　of　the　spindle.　The　development　history　of　aerostatic　spindles,　static/dynamic　performance,　and　the　factors　that　significantly　affected　the　performance　of　aerostatic　spindles,　such　as　viscosity,　velocity　slip,　and　thinning　effects　in　the　microscale　field　was　reviewed　in　this　paper.　Combined　with　existing　numerical　simulation　methods,　the　measurement　of　spindle　rotation　accuracy　and　the　state　of　spindle　motion　were　analyzed.　Finally,　the　research　development　trend　of　aerostatic　spindles　was　forecasted.　©　2023　Beijing　University　of　Technology.　All　rights　reserved.