Space Agencies The World's Space Programmes Compared

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is the world's largest space agency by budget, with over $25 billion annually. It operates the most extensive programme of scientific, exploration and human spaceflight missions. By launch cadence, China's CNSA-coordinated programme (through CASC) now launches more rockets per year. See our NASA profile and CNSA profile for detailed comparisons.

Over 70 countries have some form of space agency or space programme office. However, only about 15 have significant launch, satellite manufacturing or deep-space mission capabilities. We profile 14 of the most significant agencies on Orbital Radar. The number is growing as more nations recognise space as critical infrastructure.

As of 2026, countries with demonstrated independent orbital launch capability include: the United States, Russia, China, Japan, India, France/ESA (from Kourou), South Korea, Iran, Israel, and New Zealand (Rocket Lab, a US company launching from NZ). The UK (SaxaVord), Brazil (Alcântara) and Australia are developing or hosting launch sites. See our launch schedule for upcoming missions.

NASA is a single-nation agency (United States) with its own launch vehicles and crewed spacecraft. ESA is an intergovernmental agency of 22 European member states that pools resources — ESA does not operate crewed vehicles but sends European astronauts to the ISS aboard partner vehicles. NASA's budget (~$25B) is roughly 3× ESA's (~€7.8B). See NASA and ESA profiles.

Four agencies have achieved soft landings on the Moon: NASA (Apollo, 1969–1972), the Soviet space programme (Luna series, 1966–1976), CNSA (Chang'e 3, 4, 5, 6 — 2013–2024) and ISRO (Chandrayaan-3, 2023). Japan's JAXA achieved a precision landing with SLIM in January 2024. India and China are planning crewed lunar landings before 2035.