2011
2011 – United States Government Space Budget Overview – Snapshot
For all of FY 2011, the U.S. government operated under a series of budget measures known as Continuing Resolutions (CRs), culminating in the passage of Public Law 112-10, the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011. A CR is a type of appropriations legislation passed by Congress to fund the government when a formal appropriations bill for the next fiscal year has not been passed and signed into law by the close of the preceding government fiscal year. Generally, a CR provides funding for existing government programs at the prior year’s funding level or at a reduction.
2011 – China’s Human Launch Efforts – Snapshot
China is the only nation other than Russia to currently operate a human spaceflight system. In 2011, China placed its first modular space laboratory into orbit with the launch of the Tiangong-1 laboratory in September. The Tiangong module, whose name means “heavenly palace” in Mandarin, is about the size of a city bus. Following Tiangong-1, China launched an uncrewed Shenzhou-8 spacecraft. Following two days of maneuvers as Shenzhou-8 adjusted its orbit to meet up with Tiangong-1, the spacecraft conducted a successful, and technically challenging, automated docking procedure. This successful rendezvous and docking is a major milestone toward China’s long-term goal of establishing a permanent modular space station by the end of the decade.
2011 – Other Technology Efforts Snapshot
There is a wide range of technology development in the public and private sectors related to space infrastructure. One of the largest efforts is within NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist (OCT), an office created by NASA in 2010 to centralize and coordinate the agency’s technology development efforts.
2011 – Government Space Budgets Overview Snapshot
Overall government investment in space remains strong and growing, although the effect of smaller budgets is being seen in some places, including the United States, where 2011 government space spending was below the 2010 level. While the United States remains responsible for ##% of global government space spending, other governments appropriate significant amounts. Some, such as Brazil, Israel, and Russia, are on the cusp or in the midst of major increases in government space appropriations. Government space programs accounted for approximately $## billion in spending during 2011, which represents ##% of the total global space economy.
2011 – On-Orbit Servicing Snapshot
Once launched, satellites generally cannot be refueled or repaired. Satellites have lifetimes limited by the amount of propellant they can carry on board to maintain their orbits. A failure of a key system on a satellite can partially or totally disable the spacecraft, causing a disruption in service and potentially creating a hazard for other satellites.
2011 – Perspective – Snapshot
For half a century, human beings have been traveling to and from Earth’s orbit. Since the April 12, 1961 flight of Yuri Gagarin, 523 spacefarers from 34 countries have flown in space. The applications and services generated by space activities have become an integral aspect of life on Earth.
2011 – Galileo – Snapshot
The European Union (EU) is developing a PNT system called Galileo. The Galileo constellation will consist of ## operational satellites and three in-orbit spares. In October 2011, the first ## Galileo in-orbit validation (IOV) satellites were launched, and ## more IOV spacecraft were scheduled to launch by mid-2012. The initial Galileo constellation is expected to be in place between 2014 and 2016. However, financing may be a concern. The EU has already approved contracts for ## additional satellites with OHB of Germany, but the number of additional satellites that can be ordered depends in part on the European Commission’s calculation of exactly how much money remains in the seven-year budget, with the next budget commencing in 2014.
2011 – BeiDou – Snapshot
Since 2000, China has also been building its own national PNT system, known as Beidou (the Mandarin name for the constellation otherwise known as the Big Dipper). China launched ## satellites in 2011 to join the ## currently in orbit. These satellites will later become part of a global constellation, Compass, which is planned to consist of ## MEO satellites for global coverage and ## GEO satellites that will focus on regional coverage over China. Beidou began operating in December 2011, providing initial PNT services to a swath of the Asia-Pacific region from Australia in the south to Russia in the north with an accuracy of 25 meters (82 feet).
2011 – U.S. Human Launch Efforts – Snapshot
The events of 2011 marked a transition in the U.S. human spaceflight program with the retirement of the Space Shuttle. In the near term, NASA will rely on Russia to transport its astronauts to the ISS. However, the United States is pursuing development of several human spaceflight systems that are expected to take over U.S. crew transportation duties to the ISS and allow U.S. astronauts to travel beyond Earth orbit to explore destinations throughout the Solar System.
2011 – GLONASS – Snapshot
A launch in October 2011 raised the number of operational satellites in Russia’s GLONASS system to ##, enabling full global coverage for the first time since the 1990s. GLONASS was designed to serve both military and civilian populations. The original Soviet system began deployment with the 1982 launch of its first satellite. However, due in part to Russia’s economic difficulties in the 1990s, the network fell into disrepair. In 2001, President Vladimir Putin ordered a 10-year, $## billion modernization program.