Interactive Tables and Charts
Data Infrastructure
NASA Share of U.S. Federal Budget, 1959-2023
Engineering Trades Enrollment at Two-Year Schools 2019-2023
At two-year post-secondary schools, the number of students studying manufacturing and technical trades hasn’t bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, with engineering fields taking the biggest hit.
Denver Manufacturing Workforce, 2013-2023
But in the bustling Denver market, where overall unemployment hovers near 3%, demand for manufacturing workers is at a 10-year high.
Private Astronauts by Operator
Activity is picking up again in 2023 as Virgin Galactic completed its first tourist flights, and after posting the results of its investigation in March, Blue Origin expects to return to flight soon.
Male vs Female Astronauts, 1961-Sept. 8, 2023
The most significant human spaceflight trend in recent years has been a shift to focus on diversification.
Astronaut and Mission Count for Top Nations
Public astronauts typically complete multiple missions in space over their careers — 65% have two or more flights compared to only 9% of private space travelers. Retired NASA astronaut Frederick “CJ” Sturckow remains the only person to have visited space eight times.
Astronauts by Mission Count
In more recent years, commercial spaceflight operators have led another wave of new activity, this time targeting private astronauts and tourists primarily taking suborbital trips to space.
Commercial Human Spaceflight, 2018-2022
Commercial human spaceflight revenues were estimated at $0.5 billion in 2022, which is reflected in this chart on human spaceflight.
Space Force Tracked Rocket Bodies in Orbit, June 2023
The accidental detonation of a rocket in space caused the biggest debris event of NASA’s early efforts, with a Thor Ablestar upper stage exploding into more than 300 pieces in 1961. The danger of debris dawned on NASA after the explosion.
Space Force Tracked Spacecraft and Debris, June 2023
If LEO is the wild West, Victor Gardner, president of the space situational awareness firm LeoLabs Federal, is the new sheriff in town, and he’s packing a global network of radar stations rather than a six-shooter.