In 1966 NASA got 4.4% of US federal spending; in 2025, 0.35%
Yet American rockets flew more orbital launches: 181 in 2025 against 78 in 1966. US military spending fell from 8.4% to 3.4% of GDP over the same years.
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At the height of the Moon programme NASA got one federal dollar in 23; now one in 285. In dollars its budget grew, $5.9 billion in 1966 and $24.6 billion in 2025, but these are current prices, not adjusted for inflation. More American rockets fly than then.
Bars: the latest year as a percentage of 1966 (1966 = 100): NASA's share of federal outlays, military spending as a share of GDP and the number of orbital launches by American rockets. 100 is the same as in 1966; above 100 is more.
- United States: NASA share of US federal outlays % of federal outlays
1966: 4.41
- United States: NASA share of US federal outlays % of federal outlays
2025: 0.35
- United States: Orbital launches launches a year
1966: 78
GCAT — General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects (J. McDowell)
- United States: Orbital launches launches a year
2025: 181
GCAT — General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects (J. McDowell)
- United States: Military expenditure % of GDP
1966: 8.4
- United States: Military expenditure % of GDP
2024: 3.4
- United States: NASA outlays billion USD, current prices
1966: 5.933
- United States: NASA outlays billion USD, current prices
2025: 24.576
NASA's share and outlays: US Office of Management and Budget Historical Tables (table 4.2), actual fiscal-year outlays. Launches: Jonathan McDowell's GCAT catalogue, orbital launches successful or not, by the rocket's country. Military spending: SIPRI via the World Bank. 1966 is the year of NASA's largest share in the series.
Launches are counted by the rocket's country, not by the satellite's owner. The numbers stand side by side; the card does not claim that one moved the other.
A question for this picture
How many of today's launches belong to one company?