Appendix

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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Select Launch Vehicles by Thrust

The European Space Agency (ESA), like NASA, is also using high-tech computer models to predict how these much more powerful rockets will behave. Learning on the fly with massive rocket boosters is a costly proposition.The European Space Agency (ESA), like NASA, is also using high-tech computer models to predict how these much more powerful rockets will behave. Learning on the fly with massive rocket boosters is a costly proposition.

The European Space Agency (ESA), like NASA, is also using high-tech computer models to predict how these much more powerful rockets will behave. Learning on the fly with massive rocket boosters is a costly proposition.

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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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ESA Member Contributions by Type, 2022

Member state contributions comprised 70% of ESA funding last year. France contributed the most, €1.2 billion. Germany came in second with €1 billion, and Italy was third with €680 million. These top three member states were responsible for 42% of the total budget. The Netherlands increased the amount it sent ESA by 13% in 2022 to just shy of €100 million, while Canada slashed its contribution in half.Member state contributions comprised 70% of ESA funding last year. France contributed the most, €1.2 billion. Germany came in second with €1 billion, and Italy was third with €680 million. These top three member states were responsible for 42% of the total budget. The Netherlands increased the amount it sent ESA by 13% in 2022 to just shy of €100 million, while Canada slashed its contribution in half.

Member state contributions comprised 70% of ESA funding last year. France contributed the most, €1.2 billion. Germany came in second with €1 billion, and Italy was third with €680 million. These top three member states were responsible for 42% of the total budget. The Netherlands increased the amount it sent ESA by 13% in 2022 to just shy of €100 million, while Canada slashed its contribution in half.

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Earth Observation Revenue, 2013-2022

Earth observation satellites circle the globe collecting images and information about the Earth. This information can be valuable for a wide array of applications such as fishing, mining, and weather forecasting. Some companies in this sector sell satellite observations and imagery directly, as individual products or as a more continuous downlink, while others focus on the sale of value-added products and services or big data analyses derived from the satellite data.Earth observation satellites circle the globe collecting images and information about the Earth. This information can be valuable for a wide array of applications such as fishing, mining, and weather forecasting. Some companies in this sector sell satellite observations and imagery directly, as individual products or as a more continuous downlink, while others focus on the sale of value-added products and services or big data analyses derived from the satellite data.

Earth observation satellites circle the globe collecting images and information about the Earth. This information can be valuable for a wide array of applications such as fishing, mining, and weather forecasting. Some companies in this sector sell satellite observations and imagery directly, as individual products or as a more continuous downlink, while others focus on the sale of value-added products and services or big data analyses derived from the satellite data.

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Space Insurance Industry Estimates, 2002-2022

Operating in the space sector involves risks. Space launch is complex and launch failures are possible, even for well-established vehicles. New vehicles typically carry even greater risk. Once spacecraft successfully reach orbit, issues may arise due to factors such as space weather, space debris and a crowded orbital environment. To deal with these risks, many companies in the space sector invest in space insurance. As of 2023, there were about 25 direct space insurance companies worldwide.Operating in the space sector involves risks. Space launch is complex and launch failures are possible, even for well-established vehicles. New vehicles typically carry even greater risk. Once spacecraft successfully reach orbit, issues may arise due to factors such as space weather, space debris and a crowded orbital environment. To deal with these risks, many companies in the space sector invest in space insurance. As of 2023, there were about 25 direct space insurance companies worldwide.

Operating in the space sector involves risks. Space launch is complex and launch failures are possible, even for well-established vehicles. New vehicles typically carry even greater risk. Once spacecraft successfully reach orbit, issues may arise due to factors such as space weather, space debris and a crowded orbital environment. To deal with these risks, many companies in the space sector invest in space insurance. As of 2023, there were about 25 direct space insurance companies worldwide.

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Orbital Launch Attempts, 2022

Europe carried out five commercial launch attempts in 2022, four of which were successful. In addition to three launches of the Ariane 5 rocket, Europe successfully completed the inaugural flight of the Vega-C launch vehicle in July 2022.8 However, the second launch of Vega-C, in December, ended in failure due to an issue with a rocket nozzle.Europe carried out five commercial launch attempts in 2022, four of which were successful. In addition to three launches of the Ariane 5 rocket, Europe successfully completed the inaugural flight of the Vega-C launch vehicle in July 2022.8 However, the second launch of Vega-C, in December, ended in failure due to an issue with a rocket nozzle.

Europe carried out five commercial launch attempts in 2022, four of which were successful. In addition to three launches of the Ariane 5 rocket, Europe successfully completed the inaugural flight of the Vega-C launch vehicle in July 2022.8 However, the second launch of Vega-C, in December, ended in failure due to an issue with a rocket nozzle.

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