United States space program

The United States has developed many space programs since the beginning of the spaceflight era in the mid-20th century. The United States Government delivers space program solutions from three primary agencies: NASA for civil space; DoD for Military space; and the Intelligence Community for specific space-based Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance assets. These entities have invested significant resources over decades to advance technological approaches to meet specific program objectives. In the late 1980s, commercial interests emerged pursuing space solutions and have expanded dramatically especially with the significant investments made in the last 10–15 years.

NASA delivers the most visible elements of the U.S. space portfolio. From crewed space exploration and the Apollo 11 landing on the moon, to the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, Voyager, the Mars Rovers, many space telescopes, and the Artemis program, NASA delivers on the civil space exploration mandate. NASA also cooperates with other U.S. civil agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to deliver space assets supporting the weather and civil remote sensing mandates of those organizations. In 2022, NASA's annual budget is approximately $24B dollars.

The Department of Defense delivers the military space programs. In 2019, the U.S. Space Force was stood up as the primary DoD agent for delivery of military space capability. Systems such as the Global Positioning System, which is ubiquitous to users worldwide, was developed and is maintained by the DoD. Missile warning, defense weather solutions, military satellite communications, and space domain awareness also acquire significant annual investment. In 2023, the annual DoD budget request focused on space solutions is $24.5 billion dollars.

The Intelligence Community, through entities that include the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), invest significant resources to deliver space solutions that advance the interest of the United States in the national security domain. Space-based surveillance and reconnaissance assets are the primary focuses of these entities.

Commercial space activity in the United States was facilitated by the passage of the Commercial Space Launch Act in October 1984. Commercial crewed program activity was spurred by the establishment of the $10M Ansari X Prize in May 1996.

Definition of space flight

Space programs of the United States date to the start of the Space Age in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Programs involve both crewed systems and uncrewed satellites, probes and platforms to meet diverse program objectives.

From a definition perspective, the criteria for what constitutes spaceflight vary. In the United States, professional, military, and commercial astronauts who travel above an altitude of are awarded astronaut wings. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale defines spaceflight as any flight over . This article follows the US definition of spaceflight. Similarly, for uncrewed missions, systems are required to travel above the same altitude thresholds.

Government-led programs

The following summarizes the major space programs where the United States government plays a leadership role in managing program delivery.

Crewed Government-led programs

Uncrewed Government-led programs

Commercial space programs

The following summarizes the major space programs where private interests play the leadership role in managing program delivery.

Crewed commercial programs

Uncrewed commercial programs

See also

* Space policy of the United States
*
*
*

Explanatory notes

References

{{reflist, 2

United States
United States space programs