Category: Space Exploration

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Space Exploration Astronomy Earth from Space Mars Solar System

Budget of NASA, Year by Year [1980-1989]

The first Space Shuttle launch: April 12, 1981
The first Space Shuttle launch: Just seconds past 7 a.m. on April 12, 1981, Space Shuttle Columbia carries astronauts John Young and Robert Crippen into an Earth orbital mission scheduled to last for 54 hours, ending with unpowered landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

From 1980 to 1989, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) experienced one of its most eventful and transformative decades. During these years, NASA’s budget reflected the agency’s evolving priorities and the challenges it faced. This era was defined by significant milestones, including the launch and regular missions of the Space Shuttle program, which revolutionized space transportation. However, it was also marked by the tragic Challenger disaster in 1986. Through highs and lows, NASA’s funding patterns during this decade provide insights into the U.S. government’s commitment to space exploration and its response to unforeseen events. This article will detail the year-by-year budget of NASA throughout the 1980s, juxtaposed against the backdrop of its achievements and challenges.

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Space Exploration Earth from Space Mars Moon Landing Solar System

Budget of NASA, Year by Year [1970-1979]

Apollo 15 Lunar Roving Vehicle
Image from Apollo 15, taken by Commander David Scott at the end of EVA-1. Lunar Module Pilot Jim Irwin is seen with the Lunar Roving Vehicle, with Mount Hadley in the background. Seen on the back of the Rover are two SCBs mounted on the gate, along with the rake, both pairs of tongs, the extension handle with scoop probably attached, and the penetrometer. Note that the TV camera is pointed down, in the stowed position. Image source: Apollo 15 Map and Image Library on the NASA History website

The budget of NASA from 1970 to 1979 marks a decade of transition and continued exploration in space science. Building on the success of the Moon landing, this period saw the development and execution of significant missions such as the Viking landings on Mars, the launch of Skylab, America’s first space station, and the inception of the Space Shuttle program. The funding during these years played a vital role in maintaining America’s leadership in space exploration and technology. In this article, we will examine the year-by-year budget of NASA that enabled these groundbreaking achievements and shaped the direction of human spaceflight and planetary exploration.

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Space Exploration Earth from Space Mars Moon Landing Solar System

Budget of NASA, Year by Year [1958-2024]

Buzz Aldrin on the Moon (cropped)
Moon Landing: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, lunar module pilot, stands on the surface of the moon near the leg of the lunar module, Eagle, during the Apollo 11 moonwalk. Astronaut Neil Armstrong, mission commander, took this photograph with a 70mm lunar surface camera. While Armstrong and Aldrin descended in the lunar module to explore the Sea of Tranquility, astronaut Michael Collins, command module pilot, remained in lunar orbit with the Command and Service Module, Columbia.
This is the actual photograph as exposed on the moon by Armstrong. He held the camera slightly rotated so that the camera frame did not include the top of Aldrin's portable life support system ("backpack").
A communications antenna mounted on top of the backpack is also cut off in this picture. When the image was released to the public, it was rotated clockwise to restore the astronaut to vertical for a more harmonious composition, and a black area was added above his head to recreate the missing black lunar "sky" (Related: Why there are no stars in space photos?). The edited version is the one most commonly reproduced and known to the public, but the original version, above, is the authentic exposure. This image was cataloged by NASA Headquarters of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under Photo ID: AS11-40-5903. Image: Wikipedia

Have you ever wondered what is the budget of NASA? Charting the course of human history, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has turned science fiction into reality since its establishment on July 29, 1958. With an array of incredible feats, from Moon landings to Mars rovers, NASA has continually pushed the boundaries of space exploration. This journey hasn’t been without its costs, however, and the exploration of NASA’s annual budget from its inception to the present day offers a compelling insight into the financial fuel behind these momentous accomplishments. Here’s the budget of NASA, year by year between 1958 and 2024.

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Space Exploration Earth from Space Mars Moon Landing Solar System

Budget of NASA, Year by Year [1958-1969]

Apollo 11: Buzz Aldrin on the Moon
Probably the most iconic event in the 20th century: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin walks on the surface of the moon near the leg of the lunar module Eagle during the Apollo 11 mission. Mission commander Neil Armstrong took this photograph with a 70mm lunar surface camera. While astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin explored the Sea of Tranquility region of the moon, astronaut Michael Collins remained with the command and service modules in lunar orbit.

The budget of NASA from 1958 to 1969 represents a crucial period in the history of space exploration. During these transformative years, NASA’s funding saw significant fluctuations, reflecting the national priorities and ambitions of the time. This period marked the inception of the Apollo program, leading to the landmark achievement of putting a human on the Moon in 1969. Additionally, other pioneering missions such as the Mercury and Gemini programs laid the groundwork for human spaceflight. This era also witnessed the launch of various scientific and exploratory satellites. In this article, we will delve into the year-by-year budgetary allocations and how they shaped these historic milestones.

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Moon Landing Space Exploration

Moon Landings: All-Time List [1966-2024]

Buzz Aldrin on the Moon (cropped)
Moon Landing: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, lunar module pilot, stands on the surface of the moon near the leg of the lunar module, Eagle, during the Apollo 11 moonwalk. Astronaut Neil Armstrong, mission commander, took this photograph with a 70mm lunar surface camera. While Armstrong and Aldrin descended in the lunar module to explore the Sea of Tranquility, astronaut Michael Collins, command module pilot, remained in lunar orbit with the Command and Service Module, Columbia.
This is the actual photograph as exposed on the moon by Armstrong. He held the camera slightly rotated so that the camera frame did not include the top of Aldrin's portable life support system ("backpack").
A communications antenna mounted on top of the backpack is also cut off in this picture. When the image was released to the public, it was rotated clockwise to restore the astronaut to vertical for a more harmonious composition, and a black area was added above his head to recreate the missing black lunar "sky" (Related: Why there are no stars in space photos?). The edited version is the one most commonly reproduced and known to the public, but the original version, above, is the authentic exposure. This image was cataloged by NASA Headquarters of the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) under Photo ID: AS11-40-5903. Image: Wikipedia

In the history of Space Exploration, numerous space missions have been undertaken to study the Moon, the Earth’s natural satellite. Here’s the list of successful moon landings (crewed and uncrewed) with dates and mission summaries.

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Space Exploration

Space Shuttle Endeavour’s Touchdown Meets Columbia’s Salute [An amazing photo from the past]

The space shuttle Endeavour receives a high-flying salute from its sister shuttle, Columbia, atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, shortly after the landing of Endeavour on October 11, 1994
An amazing photo from the past: The space shuttle Endeavour receives a high-flying salute from its sister shuttle, Columbia, atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, shortly after Endeavour's landing on October 11, 1994, at Edwards, California, to complete mission STS-68. Columbia was being ferried from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, to Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California, where it will undergo six months of inspections, modifications, and systems upgrades. The STS-68 11-day mission was devoted to radar imaging of Earth's geological features with the Space Radar Laboratory. The orbiter is surrounded by equipment and personnel that make up the ground support convoy that services the space vehicles as soon as they land.

An amazing photo from the past: The space shuttle Endeavour receives a high-flying salute from its sister shuttle, Columbia, atop NASA’s Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, shortly after Endeavour’s landing on October 11, 1994, at Edwards, California, to complete mission STS-68. Columbia was being ferried from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, to Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California, where it will undergo six months of inspections, modifications, and systems upgrades. The STS-68 11-day mission was devoted to radar imaging of Earth’s geological features with the Space Radar Laboratory. The orbiter is surrounded by equipment and personnel that make up the ground support convoy that services the space vehicles as soon as they land.

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Space Exploration Energy Technology

From Orbit to Ordinary: 10 Earthly Applications of Space Technology

Space Shuttle Discovery was first launched on August 30, 1984
Space Shuttle Discovery was first launched on August 30, 1984

Space exploration and programs, often seen as lofty pursuits aimed at the stars, have a profound and often overlooked impact on our daily lives. While debates continue about prioritizing earthly concerns over cosmic exploration, it’s enlightening to recognize that many innovations we rely on daily are direct results of space research. From the solar cells powering homes to the satellite navigation guiding our journeys, space technology has silently woven itself into the fabric of our everyday existence, transforming and enhancing our world in unanticipated ways.

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Space Exploration

Axiom Station’s First Module, HAB1 is Scheduled to Launch in 2026

Axiom Station will be the world's first commercial space station.
Axiom Station will be the world's first commercial space station.

Former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson announced that the first module of the Axiom Station, HAB1, is currently scheduled to launch in 2026. Axiom Station will be the world’s first commercial space station.

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Space Exploration

China’s Tiangong Space Station vs the ISS interiors [Side-by-Side Comparison]

Tiangong vs ISS
The interiors of China's Tiangong space station vs the International Space Station (ISS)

Here’s an interesting side-by-side comparison of the interiors of China’s Tiangong space station vs the International Space Station (ISS). Tiangong looks way futuristic, that’s what actually future space stations look like in science-fiction movies. The good, old ISS clearly shows its age.

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Space Exploration

Voyager 1 is in serious trouble and sending indecipherable data

Voyager 1 in deep space
NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft, shown in this illustration, has been exploring our solar system since 1977, along with its twin, Voyager 2. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

NASA’s Voyager 1 probe, a pivotal instrument in studying the outer Solar System, is currently facing communication difficulties. Launched in 1977, its main purpose has been to gather and send back information about the transition zone between the heliosphere (the Sun’s protective bubble, encompassing the Solar System, shielding it from interstellar radiation and cosmic rays) and the interstellar medium. This mission has been crucial in enhancing our understanding of the Solar System’s edge and its interaction with the vast interstellar space.

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