2023

Space Force Tracked Debris in Orbit, June 2023

The Russians started it with pieces of Sputnik in 1957. America followed suit, and China is catching up in congesting low Earth orbit with clouds of debris that whiz around the planet at nearly 18,000 mph. Now, as low Earth orbit grows as a destination for massive constellations of satellites to deliver services from weather forecasts to phone calls, along with crewed commercial space stations, nations are racing to ban space-based littering and invent methods to take out the orbiting trash.The Russians started it with pieces of Sputnik in 1957. America followed suit, and China is catching up in congesting low Earth orbit with clouds of debris that whiz around the planet at nearly 18,000 mph. Now, as low Earth orbit grows as a destination for massive constellations of satellites to deliver services from weather forecasts to phone calls, along with crewed commercial space stations, nations are racing to ban space-based littering and invent methods to take out the orbiting trash.

The Russians started it with pieces of Sputnik in 1957. America followed suit, and China is catching up in congesting low Earth orbit with clouds of debris that whiz around the planet at nearly 18,000 mph. Now, as low Earth orbit grows as a destination for massive constellations of satellites to deliver services from weather forecasts to phone calls, along with crewed commercial space stations, nations are racing to ban space-based littering and invent methods to take out the orbiting trash.

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Launches by Nation, 2014-2023

The second half of 2023 began with the launch of the European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope, designed to probe the universe’s dark matter. And several groundbreaking civil space missions remain on tap for the year.The second half of 2023 began with the launch of the European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope, designed to probe the universe’s dark matter. And several groundbreaking civil space missions remain on tap for the year.

The second half of 2023 began with the launch of the European Space Agency’s Euclid telescope, designed to probe the universe’s dark matter. And several groundbreaking civil space missions remain on tap for the year.

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Midyear Launch by Type, 2014-2023

The failures pale in comparison to the successes, with a record 55 commercial launches through the midyear point. The first half of 2023 also set a midyear mark for military launches with 19 worldwide, exceeding the record of 17 set in the first half of 2018. Civil government launches were down slightly, with 23 launches in the first half of 2023, compared to 26 in the first half of 2022.The failures pale in comparison to the successes, with a record 55 commercial launches through the midyear point. The first half of 2023 also set a midyear mark for military launches with 19 worldwide, exceeding the record of 17 set in the first half of 2018. Civil government launches were down slightly, with 23 launches in the first half of 2023, compared to 26 in the first half of 2022.

The failures pale in comparison to the successes, with a record 55 commercial launches through the midyear point. The first half of 2023 also set a midyear mark for military launches with 19 worldwide, exceeding the record of 17 set in the first half of 2018. Civil government launches were down slightly, with 23 launches in the first half of 2023, compared to 26 in the first half of 2022.

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Midyear Launch Trends, 2014-2023

The first half of 2023 saw 97 launches worldwide, setting a record pace despite delays for major rocket programs that pushed the debuts of two major launch vehicles later into the year and notable failures on launch for SpaceX’s Starship in America and Mitsubishi’s H3 in Japan.The first half of 2023 saw 97 launches worldwide, setting a record pace despite delays for major rocket programs that pushed the debuts of two major launch vehicles later into the year and notable failures on launch for SpaceX’s Starship in America and Mitsubishi’s H3 in Japan.

The first half of 2023 saw 97 launches worldwide, setting a record pace despite delays for major rocket programs that pushed the debuts of two major launch vehicles later into the year and notable failures on launch for SpaceX’s Starship in America and Mitsubishi’s H3 in Japan.

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Non-NASA U.S. Civil Space Spending by Agency, 2021-2023

The Department of Defense’s unclassified space spending totaled $17.1 billion in 2022. Space Foundation also estimates total defense space spending, including classified and unclassified budgets for all military branches and intelligence agencies. This estimate reached $42.9 billion last year, a 21% increase year-over-year.The Department of Defense’s unclassified space spending totaled $17.1 billion in 2022. Space Foundation also estimates total defense space spending, including classified and unclassified budgets for all military branches and intelligence agencies. This estimate reached $42.9 billion last year, a 21% increase year-over-year.

The Department of Defense’s unclassified space spending totaled $17.1 billion in 2022. Space Foundation also estimates total defense space spending, including classified and unclassified budgets for all military branches and intelligence agencies. This estimate reached $42.9 billion last year, a 21% increase year-over-year.

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Global Space Activity by Category, 2007-2027

Based on global economic factors, Space Foundation forecasts that growth will slow slightly in 2023 to 6% before picking up for an average five-year growth of 7%. Under these conditions, the space economy would total $772 billion in 2027. This forecast incorporates existing markets in the space economy and does not predict any future disruptive technologies that could have extraordinary growth over the coming years.Based on global economic factors, Space Foundation forecasts that growth will slow slightly in 2023 to 6% before picking up for an average five-year growth of 7%. Under these conditions, the space economy would total $772 billion in 2027. This forecast incorporates existing markets in the space economy and does not predict any future disruptive technologies that could have extraordinary growth over the coming years.

Based on global economic factors, Space Foundation forecasts that growth will slow slightly in 2023 to 6% before picking up for an average five-year growth of 7%. Under these conditions, the space economy would total $772 billion in 2027. This forecast incorporates existing markets in the space economy and does not predict any future disruptive technologies that could have extraordinary growth over the coming years.

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As LEO Popularity Surges, Concern Escalates Over Debris Risk

Starting with Sputnik, humankind has littered low Earth orbit with clouds of debris, with as many as 170,000 objects ranging in size from poppy seeds to defunct satellites of school-bus size whizzing around the planet in uncontrolled orbits. With an historic surge in demand for satellites in low Earth orbit, including plans that could add more than 50,000 spacecraft, and planned space stations, the debris problem could grow exponentially.Starting with Sputnik, humankind has littered low Earth orbit with clouds of debris, with as many as 170,000 objects ranging in size from poppy seeds to defunct satellites of school-bus size whizzing around the planet in uncontrolled orbits. With an historic surge in demand for satellites in low Earth orbit, including plans that could add more than 50,000 spacecraft, and planned space stations, the debris problem could grow exponentially.

Starting with Sputnik, humankind has littered low Earth orbit with clouds of debris, with as many as 170,000 objects ranging in size from poppy seeds to defunct satellites of school-bus size whizzing around the planet in uncontrolled orbits. With an historic surge in demand for satellites in low Earth orbit, including plans that could add more than 50,000 spacecraft, and planned space stations, the debris problem could grow exponentially.

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