ZDNET by Sherin Shibu 1/10/2023
Is space exploration worth the money? We've had a look at the numbers so you can decide. Space projects are absorbing billions of dollars and yet seem far removed from the realities here on Earth. So, is it possible to connect the vast expenditure on rockets and Moon missions with some kind of return on all that investment? I've looked through some of the academic research to try to come to a better understanding of what we are spending on space projects -- and why.
How much does the US spend on space? NASA's budget increased by 3% in fiscal year 2022, up to $24 billion. It was still short of the increase that the Biden administration sought, which was 7%. For fiscal year 2023, the Biden administration wants to increase NASA's budget by 8% to almost $26 billion. Space spending is on the up.
Where does the money go?NASA's budget request for fiscal year 2022 reflects a topical range of priorities. The four highlighted priorities are:
• Addressing the climate crisis nationally and internationally.This includes a next-generation Earth system observatory, sustainable flight partnerships, and university research.
• Restoring America's global standing.The Artemis missions to the Moon, the International Space Station, and international partnerships all fall under this category.
• Promoting racial and economic equality by increasing the participation of historically underserved communities in STEM. This also includes landing the first woman and person of color on the Moon through the Artemis missions.
• Driving economic growth by leading American dominance in emerging markets and space technology. There's also more than $280 million allotted for investments in small business innovation research.
What portion of the pie does space take up in the overall federal budget?The following chart, created by the Planetary Society using data from the Office of Management and Budget Historical Tables 8.5 and 8.7, illustrates federal spending in fiscal year 2020. In that fiscal year, the overall budget was $6.6 trillion, of which 0.3% ($22.6 billion) went to NASA.
More:
https://www.zdnet.com/article/nasas-budget-was-24b-in-2022-heres-how-it-spends-the-money/#ftag=RSSbaffb68
