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Orbital Launch Attempts, 2021
Of the 55 commercial launches attempted in 2021, 31 occurred in the United States. Of these, 23 were carried out by SpaceX, all of which were successful. China and Russia each conducted nine commercial launches in 2021. All six Russian launches were conducted on the Soyuz launch vehicle, and all were successful.
Government Space Spending Increases 19% from 2020 to 2021
Total government space spending in 2021 reached $107 billion, a 19% increase from 2020, based on Space Foundation analysis. Space Foundation examined government space spending of 46 nations, including 14 nations new to the analysis this year.
Commercial Space Revenue Climbs More Than 6%, Edging Toward $400 Billion Annually
Commercial space activity refers to efforts undertaken by private industry with little or no government investment. Commercial space revenue in 2021 totaled $362 billion.
Advances in Nuclear Reactors Could Power NASA Missions on Moon, Mars
After a decades-long hibernation, nuclear fission power has come back into fashion for NASA and other agencies as a way to deliver power to remote locations and drive spacecraft at speeds other fuels cannot deliver.
State of Space 2022
The Space economy hit $447 billion in 2021 and the pace of growth was expected to accelerate in 2022.
Launch Attempts by Country and Mission Sector, 2021
This interactive chart tracks 2021 launch attempts and shows that commercial launches have become the largest mission sector in the United States.
Global Orbital Launch Attempts, 2021
Seven nations conducted orbital launches in 2021, with China, the United States and Russia continuing a years-long lead in launch activity.
2021 TSRQ4 – Launch Analysis: 2021 Sets Record for Successful Orbital Launches
Successful launches soared past annual records in 2021 with 134, beating out the previous record of 128 launches, last met in 1984. Chinese launches grew by. . .
2021 TSRQ4 – The Next Space Stations: Building Blocks of an Orbital Economy
The low Earth orbit (LEO) economy is developing rapidly, and new infrastructure will help LEO activity continue to grow. While the International Space Station (ISS) is nearing the end of its life, there are . . .
2021 TSR – Space Symposium Special Edition: Three Dimensions of Building Toward a Sustained Lunar Return
The Moon is re-emerging as a focus for global space exploration activities at a level and tempo that will surpass the peak of lunar activities during the space race of the 1960s and 1970s. Governments and commercial entities . . .