Space policy of the United States

The space policy of the United States includes making space policy and putting it into action for U.S. civilian and military space programs.

The early history of U.S. space policy is linked to the U.S.–Soviet Space Race in the 1960s. This was very exciting as the two countries raced to achieve new milestones in space, leading to the Space Shuttle program.

Today, US space policy aims at the exploration of the Moon and the colonization of Mars. These goals show a continuing interest in learning more about our place in the solar system and getting ready for future journeys beyond Earth. The United States has played a major role in space exploration and still works with partners around the world to reach new frontiers.

Space policy process

In the United States, space policy starts when the president makes plans for space exploration. The president sends these plans to Congress for approval and funding.

Groups that support space exploration, like the Space Science Institute, Space Force Association, and National Space Society, can share their ideas with the government. When making space plans, the president talks with NASA for civilian projects and the Department of Defense for military projects. The president also works with groups like the National Security Council and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Congress reviews these plans to make sure they are good ideas and to decide how much money to spend. Committees in Congress watch over how NASA and the military carry out these plans. Sometimes, they look closely at big projects like the Apollo program.

For civilian space work, NASA has always been in charge, but now more work is done by private companies with NASA's help. The Department of Commerce also runs some space services. The military space work is handled by the United States Space Force and United States Space Command.

Anyone wanting to launch a rocket or operate a space site in the United States needs a license from the Secretary of Transportation. The FAA and other groups make sure these rules are followed.

Space programs in the budget

Further information: Budget of NASA

The United States decides how much money to spend on space programs through its federal budget. In 2011, during the Obama administration, the budget for research and development included:

1. Defense – $78.0B
2. NIH – $32.2B
3. Energy – $11.2B
4. NASA – $11.0B
5. NSF – $5.5B
6. Agriculture – $2.1B
7. Homeland Security—$1.0B
8. Other — $6.6B

In 2020, NASA received $22.6 billion, which was about 0.5% of the total federal budget. This amount has stayed close to 0.5% since 2011. Earlier, around 1993, NASA's funding was about 1% of the budget, and even higher during the Space Race when it reached nearly 4% in 1966. Some people think money should go to other important areas instead.

International law

Further information: Space law

The United States has joined four important agreements about space made by the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. These are the Outer Space Treaty, Rescue Agreement, Space Liability Convention, and the Registration Convention. The United States has not joined the Moon Treaty.

These agreements make sure that no single country can own space or use it for harmful weapons. They say that all countries can explore space together and must help astronauts in trouble. If something from space causes damage on Earth, the country that launched it is responsible. Countries must also tell others when they send something into space. The Moon Treaty would change some rules about owning parts of space, but it hasn’t been agreed to by any country that sends people to space, so it isn’t very important in space law.

History

Truman administration

After World War II, President Harry S. Truman started a secret program called Operation Paperclip. This brought German scientists and engineers, including Wernher von Braun, to the United States. They helped the U.S. in its competition with the Soviet Union, called the Cold War. Von Braun wanted to build a special space station.

Truman set up a testing site at Cape Canaveral, which later became the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The U.S. used this place to test missiles. The Air Force also created a center there for missile tests. Scientists used special rockets for research.

Eisenhower administration

In 1956, the U.S. Air Force started a program for satellites, but President Dwight D. Eisenhower was careful because of spying concerns. He supported satellite technology for military and commercial uses but was cautious.

Eisenhower started Project Vanguard for scientific satellites. When the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1 in 1957, Eisenhower created the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to develop advanced military technology.

Later, Congress created the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1958. Eisenhower named T. Keith Glennan as its first leader.

Kennedy administration

President John F. Kennedy decided the U.S. should land a person on the Moon by the end of the 1960s after Yuri Gagarin became the first person in space. This was to show American strength.

Johnson administration

President Lyndon B. Johnson supported space efforts. However, the cost of the Vietnam War led to cuts in NASA’s budget. In 1967, Johnson helped create the Outer Space Treaty, which stopped countries from putting nuclear weapons in space.

Nixon administration

Apollo 11, the first Moon landing, happened early in Richard Nixon’s time as president. Nixon started the Space Shuttle program but did not fund other big plans.

Ford administration

During Gerald Ford’s time as president, NASA got a little more money, and the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project happened. The Shuttle program continued.

Carter administration

The Jimmy Carter administration didn’t focus much on space. They thought big space programs weren’t necessary.

Reagan administration

The first Space Shuttle flight happened early in Ronald Reagan’s presidency. Reagan wanted more space activity, including building a space station.

George H. W. Bush administration

President George H. W. Bush announced big plans for space, including settling the Moon and sending people to Mars. These plans were very expensive.

Clinton administration

During the Clinton administration, Space Shuttle flights continued, and work began on the International Space Station.

George W. Bush administration

The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster happened early in George W. Bush’s time as president. In response, Bush announced the Vision for Space Exploration in 2004. This plan aimed to send people back to the Moon and eventually to Mars.

Obama administration

President Barack Obama reviewed U.S. space plans and decided to cancel some existing programs. He promised new funding and plans for a big rocket to send people to Mars in the 2030s.

First Trump administration

In 2017, President Donald Trump re-established the National Space Council. Later that year, he signed a policy to send Americans back to the Moon and eventually to Mars. He also supported the United States Space Force, which officially started in 2019.

Biden administration

President Joe Biden supports the Artemis program, which aims to land the first woman and another person on the Moon. Biden also supports the United States Space Force and wants to invest in satellites to study climate change.

Second Trump administration

In 2025, President Donald Trump signed orders to build new missile defense systems and to make it easier for private companies to launch rockets. His budget for 2026 focuses on sending people to the Moon and Mars.