Out of the 19 top funded space programs in the world, it is no surprise that the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) leads the pack with an annual budget of $16 billion.  Accounting for nearly 50% of the world’s total budget on space research and exploration, NASA has grown considerably since the Space Race of the 1950’s and 60’s.  But the United States isn’t the only country to have contributed large amounts to the scientific discoveries of space, and together, the world is entering into the age of the Second Space Race.

A major part of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union was the Space Race.  Two days after the US announced its intention to launch a satellite, the USSR followed suite and eventually launched Sputnik in October of 1957, beating the United States and shocking the world. The race continued between the two countries to place the first man on the moon, which occurred on July 20, 1969 with NASA’s Apollo 11.  After losing the race to the moon, the Soviet Union strived to create Mir, the first orbiting space station.  With these immense accomplishments under their belts, the tension between the two countries waned and eventually died out in the spirit of collaboration.

Today, the world of space programs is no longer limited to the US and Russia, and has extended across the globe.  Top participants now include China, Europe, and Japan, all of which also train astronauts for space flight.  Created in 1993, the China National Space Administration became the third space program to launch a human in space flight in 2003.  Today, with a budget of $500 million, CNSA is in talks to build a new space station.

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) was created in 2003 when Japan merged three existing aeronautical and aerospace organizations.  While JAXA has not yet developed its own manned spacecraft, the Japanese have sent both civilians and astronauts into space with collaboration with other countries such as Russia and the US.  JAXA’s current goal is to build a lunar base by 2030 and send astronauts to the moon by 2020.

The European Space Agency was established in 1974.  Headquartered in Paris, the ESA is an intergovernmental organization currently with 17 member countries.  When the space race between the US and the Soviet Union slowed down, the ESA took the place as forerunner in space exploration, joining NASA and the UK in the International Ultraviolet Explorer, the first high-orbit telescope.  Today, the ESA has expanded to include spaceflight and in early April 2008, announced its plans to recruit new astronauts.

It is clear to see that along with everything else in the world, even space exploration is becoming a global practice and collaboration.  If the fast pace of development in this industry is any signal, we can plan on seeing and experiencing new breakthroughs such as lunar stations and landings on Mars in the not so distant future.

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