The Space Report 2024 Q2: Record Launches, NASA’s Artemis Push, Cleaner Rocket Fuels, NOAA Satellite Tech

Written by: Space Foundation Editorial Team

• 126 launch attempts through June 2024 topped 2023 record by 30% 

• NASA trims jobs and science funding to support Artemis amid flat budget through 2025 

• As launches increase, scientists explore greener rocket fuels 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — July 30, 2024 — Space Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983, offering education, collaboration and information for the global space ecosystem, today released The Space Report 2024 Q2, which shows record rocket launch pace, NASA’s battle to keep lunar programs on track, new efforts to limit environmental impacts of launch vehicle fuels, and explores how new weather satellites will deliver better data for forecasts. 

 Analysis of the global space economy across commercial, civil and defense sectors also is in the Q2 edition. The 2023 total, released July 18, is $570 billion. 

 With a launch every 34 hours, 2024 saw the busiest first six months of any year in the Space Age. While the bulk of the launches ferried communications satellites for growing constellations in low Earth orbit, the first half of the year also brought inaugural flights for key launch vehicles, including United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan and Mitsubishi’s H3. Those launch vehicles are expected to be workhorses for national security and civil government missions for the United States and Japan. France’s Ariane 6 just missed the first half of the year with its initial flight but was successfully launched in early July. 

As the launch pace quickens, space agencies are increasingly concerned with the environmental impact of launch vehicles, especially emissions in the highest regions of the atmosphere. Those worries are spurring an industry that is developing a variety of environmentally friendly fuels ranging from new biofuels to cleaner production methods for existing propellants. However, one problem faced by industry is refining new fuels at a competitive price. While agencies are studying the impact of rockets, researchers say the launch industry is only a fraction of global carbon emissions. 

The commercial space industry got a boost in an announcement at the 39th Space Symposium when the U.S. Space Force issued sweeping plans to leverage commercial space innovations and capabilities for battlefield use. Part of the change would subsidize a commercial reserve fleet of satellites that could be called upon in wartime to augment military capabilities. Growing commercial partnerships also requires the Pentagon to rethink classification levels placed on satellite programs to allow for interoperability with the burgeoning space industry and spacecraft owned by allies. 

One key civil space program in the United States, NOAA’s weather constellation, fielded its fourth and final satellite, GOES-19, which will help with advanced forecasting. GOES-19 also is equipped with NOAA’s first compact coronagraph to monitor solar activity. 

Under a tight $25.4 billion budget dictated by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, NASA faced difficult choices in early 2024, cutting1,000 jobs and canceling programs to prioritize funding for the Artemis program’s 2026 lunar landing. The Space Report details NASA’s progress with the program elements required for a lunar return. 

A growing number of space firms are preparing for humankind’s return to the Moon as they continue work on components for the Artemis program. The competition between three American companies to design the lunar terrain vehicles for NASA highlights a larger effort to develop a sustainable presence and economy on the Moon.

About The Space Report 

 As an information leader, Space Foundation produces one of the most authoritative sources on the global space ecosystem — The Space Report — offering news-making information and insight on the global space economy and its activities. First published in 2006, The Space Report is an unparalleled resource for policy analysts, congressional staff, investors, researchers, and space industry professionals and newcomers. 

With timely research, analysis, interactive data, and white papers, The Space Report provides greater understanding and insight on space exploration, global space spending, defense programs, commercial space trends, workforce development, launch and payload deployment, space innovation, and other key industry indicators. 

The Space Report is available as an online subscription for regularly updated and expanded resources and datasets and also as a quarterly digital publication. To learn more about The Space Report, visit www.thespacereport.org.  

About Space Foundation 

Space Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1983, offering education, collaboration and information  for the global space ecosystem. Driven by partnerships, Space Foundation unites the entire spectrum of stakeholders — business, government, education and local communities — through support from corporate members, sponsors, fundraising and grants. Visit Space Foundation at www.SpaceFoundation.org, and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

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Tags: Space Foundation, The Space Report, global space economy, space launch, space technology, space innovation, space ecosystem, space advocate, space commerce, space exploration, satellites, space spending, commercial space, space defense   

Media Contacts:   

Rich Cooper  
Vice President, Strategic Communications & Outreach  
Space Foundation 
(202) 596-0714
[email protected] 

Dottie O’Rourke  
TECHMarket Communications  
(650) 344-1260
[email protected]    

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