2025
NASA Europa Clipper and total planetary science budgets, 2015-2029
The Europa Clipper mission comes at a critical time when NASA is trying to determine the future of its planetary missions and budgets. NASA’s overall planetary science spending trended upward over the past decade with an average growth rate of 6%.
Active and decommissioned Norwegian satellites, 2008-2027
In its business strategy published in April, the agency emphasized the need to use space in sustainable ways to better society. Beyond government agency activities, many public universities in Norway are pursuing space research and developing their own satellites.
Space Force Guardians, 2020-2025
Space Force justified the bonuses as a tool to keep Guardians who could bolt for higher civilian salaries. The bonuses come with commitments of up to eight years in uniform, locking in Guardians for long stretches of service.
NASA spending by category, 2023-2025
NASA’s plan would raise Artemis spending by $350 million in 2025 to $7.8 billion, while cutting $230 million from the agency’s Science Mission Directorate.
NASA spending, planned vs. actual, in 2022 dollars
Faced with a budget capped at 2023 levels, NASA is striving to save its lunar ambitions, laying off employees and cutting programs in favor of the Moon.
Estimated spending for NASA and U.S. defense, 2005-2025
The Pentagon made up more than a third of global defense spending, with $851 billion in 2024, including a record $30 billion for the Space Force.
Space Force, NASA spending, 2020-2025
With record 2023 Pentagon space budgets, including $30 billion for the Space Force, the United States remained the globe’s top military spender, topping the combined total of the next nine nations.
Non-NASA U.S. civil space spending by agency, 2022-2025
U.S. civil space spending totaled $28 billion in 2023, 5.4% higher than 2022. NASA’s budget is the majority (90%) of this spending. The Department of Commerce has the next highest spending with $1.7 billion, followed by the National Science Foundation ($482 million) and the Department of Energy ($388 million).
Civil space spending in Latin America (USD), 2022-2024
Like Africa, Latin America has a budding presence in the space economy, and six nations in the region had space budgets available for this analysis.
Canadian Space Agency spending, FY2021-FY2026
Canada also is increasing its international cooperation beyond ESA programs. The nation hosted 25 Artemis Accords signatories in May for a workshop on sustainability and safety principles in space exploration.