List of space agencies
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of government agencies engaged in activities related to outer space and space exploration.
[edit] International space agencies
[edit] United Nations - Office for Outer Space Affairs
The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) is an organization of the General Assembly charged with implementing the Assembly's space-related policies. It is located in the United Nations Office in Vienna. The Office implements the Programme on Space Applications and maintains the Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space. The Office also provides support to developing nations in using space technology for economic development.
[edit] European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA), established in 1975, is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to exploration of space with currently 17 member states (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom). According to its website, “By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, [ESA] can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.” Its headquarters are in Paris, France. ESA has a staff (excluding sub-contractors and national space agencies) of about 1,900 with a budget of 3 billion euros in 2005.
[edit] National space agencies
[edit] Argentina
The Argentine Space Agency (CONAE), founded in 1996, is oriented to the development of Earth Observing satellites. It has developed several satellite missions including SAC-A, the failed mission SAC-B and the currently operating SAC-C
[edit] Australia
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation has divisions for Astronomy & Space Facilities, Astrophysics, Radio Astronomy, and Space Engineering.
[edit] Austria
The Austrian Space Agency was founded in 1977 and later joined the ESA in 1987.
[edit] Bangladesh
The Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization was established in 1980.
[edit] Belgium
The Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy was created in 1964.
[edit] Brazil
The Brazilian Space Agency, founded in 1994, directs one of the youngest space programs. Brazil's space program is the most advanced in South America. It suffered a major setback in 2003 due to a rocket explosion that killed several technicians. They had their first success on October 23, 2004 with a VSV-30, or Brazilian Exploration Vehicle, launched on a sub-orbital mission. The agency's primary launch site is at Alcântara.
[edit] Bulgaria
The Bulgarian Aerospace Agency was established in 1969. For the moment it operates mainly in cooperation with the Space agencies of several developing countries, providing high-tech components and know-how. The Bulgarian Aerospace agency is now working with the Indian agency on the Chandrayaan satellite.
[edit] Canada
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA or, in French, the ASC) is the government agency responsible for Canada's space program.
It was established in March 1989 by the Canadian Space Agency Act and sanctioned in December 1990. The agency is led by its prime minister, who reports to the Minister of Industry.
[edit] China
See People's Republic of China or Republic of China (Taiwan) entries below for information on the respective countries.
[edit] Colombia
See Colombian Space Commission, established in 2006.
[edit] Czech Republic
See Czech Space Office.
[edit] Denmark
The Danish National Space Center was established on January 1, 2005. It came about as a result of combining the Danish Space Research Institute with the geodesy part of the National Survey and Cadastre of Denmark.
[edit] France
See CNES.
[edit] Germany
[edit] Greece
See Institute for Space Applications and Remote Sensing (ISARS).
[edit] Hungary
[edit] India
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) was established on August 15, 1969 under the Department of Atomic Energy of the Government of India. It became a government organisation in April 1, 1975. Soon after ISRO Launched India's first satellite ARYABHATA[1]]] (named after the early Astronomer of Gupta Dynasty) on April 19th, it manages all of India's space activities and has a well developed space programme. Indian space programmes are driven by vision of Dr Vikram Sarabhai who is considered the father of Indian Space Programme.
ISRO has capability to build and launch satellites up to 2000 kg into polar and geostationary orbit. It has 2 major satellite launch vehicles called PSLV (Polar satellite launch vehicle) and GSLV (Geosynchronous satellite Launch Vehicle). Most of ISRO's programs are geared towards nation building, though there are a few efforts in scientific research and space exploration. ISRO has started the work on its first Unmanned Lunar program called Chandrayaan-1 (Moon-Ship-1) which is slated to be launched in April 2008.
[edit] Indonesia
See National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN).
[edit] Iran
The Iranian Space Agency (ISA), is a governmental organization and the president of this organization is one of the deputies of the ministry of communication and information technology. ISA is established to do research, design and implementation in the field of space technology ; remote sensing and development of national and international space technology and communication networks. ISA performs the approvals of the Iran Space Council (ISC), which is established in order to peacefully use space technology and science and the above atmosphere space to develop the culture, technology, science, and finance of the country. The head of ISC is the president of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
[edit] Israel
See Israeli Space Agency.
[edit] Italy
The Italian Space Agency was established in 1988.
[edit] Japan
The Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) is Japan's aerospace agency. It was formed October 1, 2003, by the merger of the National Space Development Agency of Japan (NASDA), the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan (NAL) and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS).[1]
[edit] Malaysia
Angkasa was established in 2002.
[edit] Mexico
The Mexican Space Agency (As of 2007 pending approval in the Mexican Senate).
[edit] Netherlands
See Netherlands Institute for Space Research (SRON).
[edit] Nigeria
The National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) was established in 1998.
[edit] North Korea
See North Korean Space Agency
[edit] Norway
[edit] Pakistan
See Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO).
[edit] People's Republic of China
The China National Space Administration is the civilian agency in the People's Republic of China that is responsible for national space policy. The agency was created in 1993 when the Ministry of Aerospace Industry was split in two, with the other part being the China Aerospace Corp. China became only the third country on Earth to send a human into space independently on October 15, 2003 when Yang Liwei piloted the Shenzhou V mission, accomplishing 14 orbits before returning to Earth the next day.
On October 12, 2005 China sent its second manned spacecraft into space, the Shenzhou VI. The Shenzhou VI carries 2 astronauts and it stayed in space for 5 days. The China National Space Administration agency allowed most television stations in China to broadcast the blast-off.
[edit] Peru
See Peru Space Agency (CONIDA).
[edit] Poland
See Space Research Centre, part of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
[edit] Portugal
See Portuguese Spacial Company
[edit] Republic of China (Taiwan)
See National Space Organization.
[edit] Romania
[edit] Russia
The Russian Federal Space Agency (RKA, Roskosmos) (in Russian: Федеральное космическое агенство), is the government agency responsible for Russia's space science program. It was formed after the breakup of the Soviet Union and the dissolution of the Soviet space program.
[edit] Spain
See Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial.
[edit] South Korea
The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) was established in 1981.
[edit] Sweden
See Swedish National Space Board.
[edit] Switzerland
See Swiss Space Office.
[edit] Thailand
The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) was established 2 November 2002.
[edit] Ukraine
The National Space Agency of Ukraine (NSAU) is the Ukrainian government agency responsible for space policy and programs, established in 1992. It oversees Ukraine's national and commercial space research, construction, and launch programs. Launches are conducted at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, Russia, and on the Sea Launch platform.
[edit] United Kingdom
See British National Space Centre.
[edit] United States
On July 29, 1958, President Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 establishing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). When it began operations on October 1, 1958, NASA consisted mainly of the four laboratories and some 8,000 employees of the government's 46-year-old research agency for aeronautics, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). However, within little more than a decade the United States, through NASA, placed the first human, Neil Armstrong, on the moon.
The United States also produced the first non-governmental spaceflight when Mike Melvill piloted Scaled Composites' SpaceShipOne on its first flight past the edge of space on June 21, 2004
[edit] Defunct space agencies
[edit] Soviet Union
See Soviet space program.
[edit] Richest space agencies
The budgets listed are the official budgets from the different space agencies' homepages. Note that the Chinese budget of $500 million is from official figures by Luo Ge, vice administrator of the China National Space Administration. The budget is not normalized to the expenses of space research in each country/region, i.e. higher budget does not mean more activity or better performance in space exploration.
| Country | Agency | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Image:Flag of the United States.svg United States | NASA | $16 billion |
| Image:Flag of France.svgImage:Flag of Germany.svgImage:Flag of Italy.svgImage:Flag of the United Kingdom.svgImage:Flag of Belgium (civil).svgImage:Flag of Spain.svgImage:Flag of Canada.svgImage:Flag of Switzerland.svgImage:Flag of the Netherlands.svgImage:Flag of Sweden.svg | ESA (European Space Agency) | $4.260 billion |
| Image:Flag of France.svg France | CNES (French space agency) | $2.49 billion |
| Image:Flag of Japan.svg Japan | JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) | $2.0 billion |
| Image:Flag of Russia.svg Russia | RKA (Russian Federal Space Agency) | $1.4 billion |
| Image:Flag of Israel.svg Israel | ISA (Israeli Space Agency) | $1.25 billion |
| Image:Flag of Germany.svg Germany | DLR (German Aerospace Center) | $1.242 billion |
| Image:Flag of Italy.svg Italy | ASI (Italian Space Agency) | $978 million |
| Image:Flag of India.svg India | ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) | $815 million |
| Image:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg People's Republic of China | CNSA (Chinese National Space Administration) | $500 million |
| Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom | BNSC (British National Space Centre) | $414 million [2] |
| Image:Flag of Canada.svg Canada | CSA (Canadian Space Agency) | $321 million |
| Image:Flag of Ukraine.svg Ukraine | NSAU (National Space Agency of Ukraine) | $250-300 million |
| Image:Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belgium | Belgian science policy and space policy | $230 million |
| Image:Flag of Spain.svg Spain | CDTI (Spanish space agency | $175 million |
| Image:Flag of the Netherlands.svg Netherlands | SRON (Netherlands Institute for Space Research) | $160 million |
| Image:Flag of South Korea.svg South Korea | KARI (Korea Aerospace Research Institute) | $150 million |
| Image:Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil | AEB (Brazilian Space Agency) | $120 million |
| Image:Flag of Switzerland.svg Switzerland | SSO (Swiss Space Office) | $110 million |
| Image:Flag of Sweden.svg Sweden | SNSB (Swedish National Space Board) | $100 million |
[edit] See also
Public sector space agencies | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||
Spaceflight lists and timelines | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Human space exploration |
Mir Expeditions (Visiting spacecraft and crews ·
Spacewalks) | ||
| Solar System exploration | Timeline of space exploration · Solar System probes · Solar System exploration · Artificial satellites and space probes · Probes by operational status · Interplanetary flights · Landings on other planets · Artificial objects on extra-terrestrial surfaces · Objects at Lagrangian points · Earth observation satellites · Earth science satellites · Magnetosphere science satellites | ||
| Other mission lists and timelines | Spaceflights (comprehensive list) · NASA missions · Constellation missions · Communications satellite firsts · Cosmos satellites · Rocket and missile technology · Milestones in space exploration, 1957–1969 · Satellites in GSO · Space Race · Spaceflight records · Timeline of first orbital launches by country | ||
| Vehicles | |||
| Launches by rocket | |||
| Agencies, companies and facilities | |||
[edit] External links
- Space Science, In Persian Language [دانش فضايي]
[edit] Notes
- ^ JAXA official site JAXA HISTORY. Retrieved on 2006-12-05.
- ^ http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/content.aspx?nid=5551
es:Agencia Espacial fr:Liste des agences spatiales he:סוכנות חלל hu:Űrügynökség mr:अंतराळ संशोधन संस्था यादी pl:Agencja kosmiczna pt:Anexo:Lista de agências espaciais fi:Luettelo avaruusjärjestöistä sv:Lista över rymdstyrelser
