Exploring the space is an age-old dream that has only become possible in the past century. For eons, people have looked upon the skies and wondered what the twinkling lights were and what else was out there, which is why we’re now looking at the top 10 countries in space exploration.
What lies outside the atmosphere is breathtakingly beautiful and many of those who have gazed at the stars have ended up passionate about astronomy, reading more about space and learning new things about the Universe.
Some have taken their passion to the next level and put together programs that would end up revolutionizing the way we see the Earth and the world beyond it, learning how it all came to be and what might happen from here on out, many billion years from now.
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It’s a fascinating subject that many are passionate about, both “civilians” and scientists. Some countries have vowed to make a difference in the history of humanity and are investing big money into space programs that seek to find out more about the Universe by observing various points of interest and more. They conduct experiments, develop outlandish programs and dream the dreams others don’t dare to do. Compared to other areas of interest, however, space programs continue to be underfunded by the world’s governments, but then again that’s the fate of most scientific work.
When it comes to space exploration one important thing is how much you’re willing to invest because flying into outer space isn’t cheap by any means. You can check out which are the 7 most advanced countries in space technology to see just how everyone stands in this department.
Then, it matters how many programs the agencies have under their belt and how big their dreams are for the future. It’s also quite important if they can launch manned missions since this is a capability only a few have. Other areas of activity in which they are involved, such as satellite operating and astronaut training are quite important too.
So, in order to create a list of the top ten countries in space exploration we took a look at the world’s space agencies and created a ranking that took into account how long they’ve been working on deciphering the Universe, the agency’s budget, their capabilities and whether or not they can launch manned missions. Each agency was ranked by budget, by decades of activity, points which were then added together. On top of these, the agencies received up to 4 points depending on the capabilities they have and another 5 points if they commonly run manned missions.
10. UK
Points – 7
In 2010, the British government founded the United Kingdom Space Agency (UKSA) to replace the British National Space Centre which had been around since 1985. With a budget of close to $500 million, the UK has a big dream of becoming an important player in the space race. For now, however, the agency isn’t doing all that much in terms of big space exploration.
Some of its own projects involve observing Earth and space for various case projects. In the latter category enter studies regarding the Solar system, as well as robotic and manned spaceflight. It is, however, part of the European Space Agency where it contributes to the various projects that are underway.
9. India
Points – 10
The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the country’s space agency. Established in 1969 as ISRO, the agency was named INCOSPAR since 1962. Its current budget sits around $1.2 billion, which helps quite a bit in all its projects.
The Indian agency has already sent a lunar orbiter back in 2008, as well as a Mars orbiter, trying to find out more about the Red Planet. Unlike other countries, India doesn’t want to compete to be the first to land on some other planet, or some other such project, but it retains its age-old mission to develop space technology and see how it best applies to national tasks.
8. Italy
Points – 11
With a budget of $1.8 billion, the Italian Space Agency has some pretty nice projects. Created in 1988, the government agency has launched several satellite missions, starting with BeppoSAX who wanted to check out how the Universe looks like in X-Ray.
The Italian Space Agency is also quite busy collaborating in various international space missions, including the Cassini-Huygens, next to NASA and the European Space Agency, and the Mars Express, as well as the Venus Express.
The agency is involved in the ISS program, a number of the station’s modules being built here.
7. France
Points – 16
The CNES is the French space agency and was created back in 1961. Nowadays, it has a budget of $1.9 billion, but at least part of it goes out to the European Space Agency, whose member it is. The agency is concentrated on a few areas, including the overall access to space, but also on science and technology research.
The agency performs experiments in microgravity via the International Space Station, studying satellite formation flying. It also collaborates on other projects, as well, including Rosetta, the space probe researching a comet, the Cassini-Huygens, which wants to take a look at Saturn, and more.
6. European Space Agency
Points – 16
Ok, the European Space Agency isn’t exactly a country, but it’s been making headway on some very important issues. It’s also investing quite a bit of money into space exploration and it represents the European Union, so we decided to include it.
The European Space Agency was established back in 1875 and is an intergovernmental organization. Nowadays, there are 22 member states working together in the ESA. Its annual budget is of about $5.5 billion, which is quite low considering how many sources of money it could have given the number of members. Regardless, the ESA has quite a few important projects it’s working on, but they’re generally unmanned missions.
There is, however, the Spacelab, which was built in 1983 and where various experiments were conducted and where European Space Agency astronauts participated. Furthermore, European astronauts participate regularly in ISS missions.
5. Germany
Points – 20
The German Aerospace Center is up next on the list. Abbreviated DLR (for Deutsches Zentrum ür Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V), the German national center for aerospace, energy and transportation research has a budget of $2 billion, out of which about $500 million go to the European Space Agency. The DLR was created in 1970, but the German have had a space institute for a long time, namely from 1907 when the Aerodynamic Experimental Station was founded.
The agency’s research focuses on the Earth and the solar system as it tries to improve the local and European aeronautical industry. Otherwise, the German space agency mostly works with the European Space Agency on its projects, including the Mars Express which is set to be the first planetary mission.
Overall, it’s one of the top ten countries in space exploration thanks to its many contributions.
4. Japan
Points – 20
Also known as JAXA, Japan’s Aerospace eXploration Agency, has a budget of an estimated $2 billion. The agency was formed in 2003 through the merger of three different organizations with a distant background, the oldest having been formed in 1955.
The Japanese agency does a lot of research and it has launched plenty of satellites, as well as various spacecrafts. One, for instance, went out to an asteroid near Earth,, collected some samples and returned home back in 2010, after a 7 year mission. They also research the Moon, the Sun and are excelling at radio astronomy.
3. China
Points – 22
China’s National Space Administration has been around since 1993, but it was preceded by the original space program which was launched in 1956. It has an official budget of $500 million, although it seems to always be updated upwards, which puts the number closer to $1.3 billion in reality.
The country has a few projects of its own, including Tiangong, the space laboratory module that’s been orbiting Earth since 2011, as well as a lunar lander and rover called Chang’e 3. The agency also collaborates in various other space programs alongside many nations around the world, including the United States.
2. Russia
Points – 26
The Russian Federal Space Agency is the name the former Soviet space program was given back in the 90s. The Russians have been looking into space and working on various programs to get out there since 1931 and it is currently one of the world’s most important players in the space game.
With a budget of about $4 billion per year, Russia’s Roscosmos has so far run dozens of programs, including manned missions. Russia is, in fact, one of the very few countries that has the capabilities to fly astronauts into space. Roscosmos is also involved in the International Space Stations and about half its annual budget goes to its upkeep and the various missions that run on it.
The Russian spacecrafts Soyuz are one of the few that are charged with taking the astronauts up to the International Space Station. One of these is permanently docked at the ISS so they can be used in case of emergency. Perhaps you’ve watched “Gravity” so you know what we’re talking about
Anyway, Russia’s Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova was the first woman to ever fly in space, back in 1963 when she piloted the Vostok 6 along with other astronauts, so that’s another plus for the Russians.
1. The United States of America
Points – 26
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or better known as NASA, takes the top spot among all space agencies in the world. Not only does NASA have a budget of $18 billion, but it also has launched thousands of missions in the 57 years it has been around in.
NASA, which is funded by the United States government, has extensive capabilities. It has plenty of astronauts to pride itself with, operates satellites circling the Earth, it has rockets that can come back home with biological material and it has plenty of sounding rockets.
The American space agency has run plenty of manned space programs, including the famous Apollo program which landed men on the Moon and returned them back home safely. There’s also the famous Skylab, which was the first and only independently built space station of the United States, from back in the 60s and 70s, and the Space Shuttle program that run up until a few years ago. Of course, the most famous mission was the creation of the International Space Station in collaboration with other nations, which is still called home by many astronauts who take turns living aboard it.
Its many impressive feats put it at the top of the list of the top 10 countries in space exploration.
