NASA's Total Budget: A Historical Perspective

In July of this year, NASA celebrated a major milestone - 50 years since the first Moon landing. The Apollo program, which culminated in that historic event, was a massive undertaking that required significant funding. In fact, the total estimated cost of the Apollo program came to around $25 billion, equivalent to $175 billion (£140 billion) today.

But was it worth it? According to polling data from the time, many Americans didn't think so. In 1967, just as the Moon landing was about to take place, a survey found that only 4% of the public approved of the program. This lack of support is surprising, given the enormous resources being devoted to the effort.

To put it into perspective, in 1965, NASA funding peaked at around 5% of government spending. Today, it's more like 0.1%. The Apollo program was a significant drain on public funds, with billions of dollars being spent on rockets, spacecraft, computers, ground control, and the tens of thousands of people needed to make it all happen.

The motivations behind the Moon landing were also surprisingly straightforward. As revealed by a private conversation between President John F Kennedy and NASA head James Webb in 1962, the true goal was not necessarily to expand human knowledge or push the boundaries of space exploration, but rather to beat the Soviet Union. 'I think it's good, I think we ought to know about it, we're ready to spend reasonable amounts of money,' Kennedy said, 'but we're talking about these fantastic expenditures which wreck our budget.'

In recent years, NASA's budget has continued to fluctuate, with funding levels rising and falling depending on the administration in power. In 2007, President George W Bush requested $16.2 billion for NASA, while in 2019, President Trump requested $19.5 billion.

Despite these ups and downs, NASA remains an important part of our country's space exploration efforts. As we look to the future, it will be interesting to see how much funding is allocated to the agency and what projects are prioritized.

In conclusion, while the cost of the Apollo program may have been high, its legacy continues to inspire new generations of scientists and engineers. Whether or not it was 'worth it' ultimately depends on one's perspective - but one thing is certain: NASA's total budget will continue to play a critical role in shaping our understanding of space and our place within it.

Nasa total budget