Outline of space exploration

The European Space Agency's Columbus Module at the International Space Station, launched into space on the U.S. Space Shuttle mission STS-122 in 2008.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to space exploration:

Space exploration – use of astronomy and space technology to explore outer space.^[1] Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft.

1 Essence of space exploration
2 Branches of space exploration
3 History of space exploration
4 Current space exploration
- 4.1 Space agencies
- 4.2 Active space missions
5 Future of space exploration
6 General space exploration concepts
7 Space exploration scholars
8 Leaders in space exploration
9 Space exploration lists
10 See also
11 References
12 External links

Essence of space exploration

Main article: Space exploration

Branches of space exploration

History of space exploration

Main articles: History of space exploration and Timeline of space exploration

Current space exploration

Space agencies

The largest-funded space agencies are:

Country	Agency	Annual Budget
United States	NASA	$19.3 billion^[2]
	ESA (European Space Agency)	$4.260 billion^{[citation needed]}
France	CNES (French space agency)	$2.49 billion^{[citation needed]}
Japan	JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)	$2.0 billion^{[citation needed]}
Russia	RKA (Russian Federal Space Agency)	$1.4 billion^{[citation needed]}
Germany	DLR (German Aerospace Center)	$1.242 billion^{[citation needed]}
India	ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization)	$1.01 billion^{[citation needed]}
Italy	ASI (Italian Space Agency)	$978 million^{[citation needed]}
China	CNSA (Chinese National Space Administration)	$500 million^{[citation needed]}
United Kingdom	UKSA (UK Space Agency)	$414 million^[3]
Canada	CSA (Canadian Space Agency)	$321 million^{[citation needed]}
Ukraine	NSAU (National Space Agency of Ukraine)	$250–300 million^{[citation needed]}
Belgium	BELSPO (Belgian Federal Science Policy Office)	$230 million^{[citation needed]}
Spain	INTA (National Institute of Aerospace Technology)	$175 million^{[citation needed]}
Netherlands	SRON (Netherlands Institute for Space Research)	$160 million^{[citation needed]}
South Korea	KARI (Korea Aerospace Research Institute)	$150 million^{[citation needed]}
Brazil	AEB (Brazilian Space Agency)	$120 million^{[citation needed]}
Switzerland	SSO (Swiss Space Office)	$110 million^{[citation needed]}
Sweden	SNSB (Swedish National Space Board)	$100 million^{[citation needed]}
Argentina	CONAE (National Space Activities Commission)	$96 million^{[citation needed]}