The United States space programs include NASA for civil space, the United States Space Force for military space, and the National Reconnaissance Office for intelligence space. Commercial interests are also significant is the last decades.
Definition of space flight Space programs of the United States date to the start of the Space Age in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Programs involve both crewed systems and uncrewed satellites, probes and platforms to meet diverse program objectives. The definition of what constitutes spaceflight varies. In the United States, professional, military, and commercial astronauts who travel above an altitude of 50 miles (80 km) are awarded astronaut wings. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale defines spaceflight as any flight over 62 miles (100 km). Uncrewed missions follow the same altitude thresholds.
Government-led programs The following summarizes the major space programs where the United States government plays a leadership role in managing program delivery.
Crewed government-led programs
Uncrewed government-led programs
Commercial space programs The following summarizes the major space programs where private interests play the leadership role in managing program delivery.
Crewed commercial programs
Uncrewed commercial programs
See also
Space policy of the United States List of European Space Agency programmes and missions Japanese space program British space programme – Official efforts to develop space capabilities Chinese space program Soviet space program – Space exploration program conducted by the Soviet Union from 1951 to 1991 List of government space agencies List of private spaceflight companies in the United States List of rockets of the United States List of NOAA satellites List of NASA missions NASA large strategic science missions List of uncrewed NASA missions
Explanatory notes
References