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In 2003, China became the third nation capable of human spaceflight, with the launch of the Shenzhou 5 mission. Since then, it has flown three additional missions, each one advancing Chinese spaceflight capabilities. So far, all Chinese crewed missions have used the Shenzhou spacecraft, which resembles a larger Russian Soyuz, although the Chinese space program has described the similarity as mostly cosmetic. The Shenzhou spacecraft have entered mass production, moving beyond the status of one-off experimental machines, after the design of Shenzhou 8 was finalized.
Read MoreRussia has retained the ability to send cosmonauts into orbit since the launch of Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, in 1961. Currently, Russia is the only nation ferrying people to and from the ISS. In addition to using its Soyuz spacecraft for ISS transportation, Russia also sells or barters transportation services to individuals and other ISS partner nations.
Read MoreThe United States, after the Soviet Union, was the second nation to send a human into space, but it will not have its own human spaceflight capability for the next several years, following the retirement of the Space Shuttle in 2012. The United States has several programs in development intended to restore its national human spaceflight capability.
Read MoreThe commercial space products and services sector was the largest contributor to space economy revenues in 2012. Total 2012 revenues for commercial space products and services were estimated at $## billion, ##% more than the $## billion estimated in 2011. This includes revenues from satellite broadcasting, communications, and Earth observation.
Read MoreSpace has a unique ability to capture people’s imagination, whether it is based on a scientific curiosity, technological marvel, or even philosophical contemplation. Many products educate people about space, use space as a theme for games and other forms of entertainment, or do both at the same time.
Read MoreTo recognize and raise awareness of new space products and services, the Space Foundation maintains its Space Technology Hall of Fame and Space Certification programs. In collaboration with NASA, the Space Technology Hall of Fame annually honors individuals or organizations that have improved the quality of life on Earth by developing a product based on space technology.
Read MoreWorkforce: Workforce and Education – TSR 2012 explores U.S. space, European space, Japanese space, and other space workforces at national levels, including NASA and U.S. National Security space workforce. Along with…
Read MoreSpace Products and Services – TSR 2012 explores space products and services and how they have enriched the lives and businesses of everyday people ranging from travel and entertainment to science…
Read MoreIndustry Outlook – 2012 covers today’s space industry, which has evolved into a global community with a variety of multidisciplinary activities that cross national boundaries and include novel partnerships between…
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