Each space mission reflects not just an immense financial investment, but also decades of planning, the use of cutting-edge technology, And above all, international collaboration that does not reflect the world's current disharmony. These programmes could be deep space exploration and scientific research. Or manned space travel and space station construction.
Which were the most costly space journeys or projects? BBC Science Focus drew up a list adding inflation-adjusted costs. Here are its highlights...
Launched in 1981 and concludied in 2011, the Space Shuttle Program was one of NASA’s most ambitious undertakings, with a total cost of then approximately $199 billion. Designed around reusable spacecraft, it transformed space travel by enabling frequent missions to low Earth orbit.
Built over several years, starting in 1998, continuing operations through 2020 and beyond, the International Space Station is a testament to how countries work together in space. At an estimated cost of $160 billion, it is the most expensive man-made object ever constructed ad was developed, jointly, by space agencies from the US, Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada.
Operating from 1961 to 1972, the Apollo Program was America’s bold mission to land humans on the moon, driven by Cold War rivalry and scientific ambition. With a cost of around $109 billion, it remains one of the most expensive historic space ventures. It achieved its greatest milestone when Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon in 1969.
Between 2014 and 2018, NASA invested approximately $23 billion into the development of the Space Launch System and the Orion spacecraft.
Initiated in 1978, still operational today, the Global Positioning System has become a global utility, influencing everything from navigation to banking. The US invested approximately $12 billion to establish and maintain the system, which consists of a constellation of satellites providing real-time location and timing data worldwide.
Launched in 1990 and still active, the Hubble Space Telescope has redefined our view of the universe. Orbiting high above earth's atmosphere, it has delivered stunning images and vital scientific data for over three decades. The total mission cost reached around $10 billion, accounting for construction, servicing missions, and operations.
Begun in 1977, it ran through till 1982, the USSR’s Salyut 6 was a pioneering step in long-duration space habitation. Costing around $9 billion, the station introduced innovations like dual docking ports, which enabled multiple crew visits and resupply missions.
Initially scheduled for launch in 2018, the James Webb Space Telescope successfully launched in 2021, with an estimated development cost of $8.8 billion.