How much does the U.S. Space Program cost?
359760
NASA's budget is currently about $16 billion a year.  That sounds like a lot, but out of the trillions of dollars the government makes yearly, it's not much at all.
964773
You are not the only one, but you are part of a very misinformed group.\n\nThe new system (Ares I and Ares V) will do every job we need it to do. It is true we are sacrificing some of the versatility of the shuttle, however, you are insanely mistaken about cost.\n\nThe shuttle costs about 500 million per launch... far from the promised 25 million of 20 years ago. This is a staggering number when you compare that the entire Apollo program from inception to final launch only cost about 13 billion. The Ares rockets will be cheaper and mostly re-useable. The first stage of Ares I and the strap-on stages of Ares V are actually just 5 segment shuttle RSRM's.\n\nCurrently, the solid rocket boosters on the Space Shuttle (the white rockets on the sides) are 4-segment motors. The Ares first stage for the manned rocket will be the Shuttle RSRM with an extra segment. The strap-on rockets on the HLV (Ares V, heavy lift vehicle) will be the same rockets as well. The Ares V will also have a liquid portion of its first stage. Ares I will have a liquid second stage which will burn up on re-entry. However, the capsule will be refurbuished and re-used.\n\nFor the most part, the rockets will be re-used. Fairings and the second stage liquid motors as well as the LEM/Service Module will be the largest expense as these will not be fully re-used. However, overall the program will be FAR less costly than the shuttle program, and will do FAR more for us. The shuttle can only launch into Earth orbit and cannot get to the Moon. The new Ares rockets will be able to do orbital as well as Lunar missions, and increase the US's versatility in space.\n\nDamaged satellites, the ISS, and all will be easily repaired and supplied with the new rockets. Sure, it may seem like a step back. But why fix what ain't broken? These systems will be far more simplistic, safer, cheaper, and more robust than the STS systems. Ares is only a first step, and your tech tooth will be satisfied when Nuclear rockets or some other new rocket technology takes us past the Moon and onto Mars.
985492
Hi!\nAccording to the reports that I have read the cost varies by program, but approximately $5,000 for a high-school program.... maybe you would like to visit this forum for comments and experiences:\n\nhttp://www.suite101.com/discussion.cfm/travelandculture/84911#message_772/\n\nGood luck to your son!
850788
Is it scary, or ironic?  One third of the US space program is run by aliens!\n\nThe Space Shuttle was built be the lowest bidder!
1179969
Not soon enough.\nSince there is no Super-power race for space dominance, it comes down to "will it make a profit".  So, when some industry or company decides they can make a few million bucks, it'll happen.  Until then, don't go looking for tickets for the moon shuttle.
631160
Initially Hubble cost $1.5 billion to build and put into orbit. \n\nHubble's total budget in one year is in the range $230-250 million. That money does more than simply keep Hubble operating on a daily basis. In addition to operational costs, the total dollar figure includes funds for scientific data analysis, as well as for the development of future hardware and its associated software.\n\nThe concept of servicing Hubble to upgrade its instruments rather than launching a whole new telescope has saved billions of dollars.
469521
The US spends only a tiny fraction of the budget on the space program, and the benefits from it are fantastic.  \n\nThe computers we use right now would not be possible without the transistor, and transistors were invented as a result of the space program.  \n\nDo you ever watch satellite TV?  How do you think those satellites got there?\n\nDo you ever watch weather reports?  Weather satellites improve forecasting ability immensely.\n\nEver hear of OnStar, the button in your car you push when you need help?  It uses satellites to find and communicate with you.\n\nGPS, the global positioning system.  \n\nEver use Google maps satellite photo option?\n\nThe Hubble Space Telescope has given us enormous insight into the nature of the universe, and continues to do so.  \n\nWe haven't "found" anything useful in space, we found useful things in the pursuit!  And we made useful things.  It's what we as humans do best, innovate, create, and explore.  And we've only begun to explore the possibilities.  Zero-gravity manufacturing opens up all kinds of potential for making better things, like perfectly spherical ball-bearings that would have a million applications on the ground.\n\nKeep in mind that we spend ONE BILLION DOLLARS EVERY DAY on our military.  And that's just during peacetime.  We only spend a fraction of that on space travel, but the return on the investment is huge.  \n\nBut no, you're not the only one who thinks it's a waste.  Unfortunately, there are lots of people who agree, and are doing their best to hold us back from acheiving even more.
981333
http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/scienceques2002/20030516.htm
294827
The US states spends all that money on the space program, then when a disaster hits within the nation, there is "no money" to help the people.  Something is wrong with that picture.
530284
The Mercury Program was first, testing the ability of humans to operate complex machines in space.  Then came the Gemini Program, which tested how two spaceships could rendezvous (come together and dock) and how astronauts could perform spacewalks, both important for landing on the moon.  The Apollo program was next, which after a ground failure and four successful non-moon-landing flights, landed on the moon in 1969.\nThere is another answer to this question, since you're looking for the first stage in THE space program to send Americans to the moon.  There is currently a program called "Constellation", or simply "Exploration", whose first vehicle will be the Crew Exploration Vehicle, or CEV.  This program is designed to take Americans to the moon, and the CEV is the first stage.
422214
Cost: $1.35 Billion so far\nTook: 3.5 years so far
980946
I say this as someone who thinks space exploration is great and who doesn't mind that some of my money is being used to fund it:\n\nThe government has no business using money that it takes by force from the people (taxes) to explore space.  If the people of the US want to fund space exploration then they are perfectly free to do so voluntarily with their own money.  They shouldn't be able to vote to force other people to pay for it.  If enough money isn't given without people being forced to give, then it shouldn't be done.  \n\nThe long-term goal of American space exploration should be whatever the private space exploration groups can get people (and companies) to donate money for.
173254
i work for the govt and i am a financial manager for NASA research. we get most of our funds from congressional adds and private researchers. the rest of it is from different institutions needing to know the information for a current or future program.\n\nthanks,\n\nryan\n\nair force research labs.
279576
The cost would depend on a large number of variables: No of astronauts, number of missions, duration of each mission would only be starters.  The cost per mission rapidly falls as the number of missions increases.  Lets assume the development and deployment of a fleet of new Earth-Moon spacecraft costs $100,000,000,000.  If there is only one mission then that is the cost!  But if there are 100 missions then the cost per mission is (only) $1,000,000,000
127451
As of about 30 seconds ago, about $241,160,000,000 has been spent based on estimates from congressional appropriations. The population of the United States currently is about 298,116,000. Therefore, the cost per capita is $808.95.
125071
NASA was started in the '50's to get the USA in the 'Space Race' - the Soviet Union (USA's arch-nemisis at the time) had launchest THE FIRST satellite ever. The USA felt embarrased and needed to show them up. \n\nNASA and the 'money wasted' is responsible for quite a few modern conveniences, from CAT scans to industrial processes and materials, to cordless power tools, etc.\n\nIt is money well spent!
364030
NASA's 2006 budget is in excess of $16 billion. The agency says it understands its fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayer. But by any standard, the space program is wasting many, many millions of dollars. \n\nAnd now, it has its eye on returning to the Moon and a manned mission to Mars. Schatz says that shouldn't be the focus. "Let's just get NASA in shape to do what it's doing now as opposed to expanding its mission into something that's far larger than anything they've done before