Space Exploration

Space exploration is an expensive endeavor for the U.S. government. In recent years, NASA's budget has been cut more frequently than it has been maintained or increased. The agency underwent a restructuring and streamlining program that included a goal of reducing its civil-servant staff. In 2004 the trend reversed when President George W. Bush called for a new initiative to further space travel and exploration, and as a result NASA projected a $1 billion budget increase over the span of five years. This was expected to positively affect the NASA workforce. Things changed in 2011 with the discontinuation of the shuttle program.

Instead of a proposed 7.1 percent budget increase for NASA in 2024, a 2 percent decrease actually happened following cuts by congressional appropriators. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in July 2026, reprioritized funding for NASA with an additional $9.9 billion in funding through 2032 to support the Artemis, Space Launch System (SLS), and Orion programs.

A current project NASA project is the development and design of the Orion spacecraft. In late 2024, the agency was planning to use the spacecraft for its Artemis II mission, which would take four astronauts around the far side of the moon in April 2026. A subsequent Artemis III mission would follow in mid-2027, resulting in the first lunar landing with a human crew since 1972’s Apollo 17 mission. Eventually, NASA could use Orion for a mission to Mars.

Going forward with manned space exploration projects, NASA is developing technologies that will enable humans to live away from Earth for extended periods of time. These technologies include advanced space suits, space exploration vehicles with pressurized cabins for use on distant planets, advanced communications systems, and more. It is hoped these advancements will enable manned missions to an asteroid and possibly to Mars.

Private companies and other governments are also stepping in to fill the void left by cancellation of the U.S. shuttle program. U.S. astronauts are transported to the International Space Station aboard spacecraft like the SpaceX Dragon and the Boeing CST-100 Starliner. Virgin Galactic is building spacecraft for use in suborbital space flights for science missions as well as for an evolving industry, space tourism. Cargo, including materials and supplies are now transported to the International Space Station aboard unmanned spacecrafts built by companies such as Virginia-based Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (formerly Orbital ATK), and California-based SpaceX.

Space exploration technology is just one sector of the aerospace industry, which covers the larger industry of commercial aircraft production. Many people work for the private aerospace companies that develop and manufacture space equipment. The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) reported that the commercial aerospace and defense industry contributed $425 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product in 2023, which represented about 1.6 percent of the GDP. The aerospace and defense industry experienced 7.1 percent growth in sales revenue from 2022 through 2023. In 2023, the industry supported 2.2 million workers, according to the AIA. This reflected a 4.8 percent employment increase from the previous year, outpacing the national average increase of 1.7 percent.

In an October 2024 analysis, The Business Research Company estimated that the global aerospace market was valued at $308.67 billion in 2023. This figure was forecast to increase 19.6 percent in 2024, to $369.24 billion, and then rise at a slightly slower compound annual rate of 5.8 percent through 2028, reaching $461.93 billion. Several trends were propelling the market, including investments in virtual reality to make manufacturing processes more efficient, the use of smart materials in aircraft manufacturing, and advanced avionics.

In its 2025 Aerospace and Defense Industry Outlook, Deloitte explained that the aerospace industry would focus on both local and national job markets when hiring employees. To attract top engineers capable of working with the latest technologies, aerospace companies were expected to continue paying wages that were higher than average. Local recruiting was likely to focus on programs, including public-private partnerships, that would provide a steady stream of production and operations employees. To attract future workers, companies may potentially invest more in programs targeting K–12 and technical college students.

An aging workforce was a noteworthy challenge for aerospace companies during the mid-2020s. Citing figures from the Aerospace Industries Association, Deloitte revealed that turnover in the industry stood at approximately 13 percent in 2023, which was much higher than the national average of 3.8 percent. “The aging workforce is a persistent problem in the industry, with 25% of the workforce having more than 20 years of experience and being at or beyond the eligible retirement,” the report stated. “While retirement ages across the United States are increasing, any amount of retirement in the aerospace and defense industry exacerbates existing talent gaps, as retirees take with them a wealth of institutional knowledge.”

The aerospace industry is directly linked to the economy, and subject to budget cuts during recessions and in certain administrations. It also is directly tied to the manufacturing industry, where added value is forecast to increase at a compound annual rate of 1.2 percent between 2024 and 2029, according to Statista. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts faster than average employment growth for aerospace engineers between 2023 and 2033. During that timeframe, approximately 4,100 new jobs will be created. In addition to openings resulting from retirements and job changes, space-related projects will drive employment opportunities as well. “Demand for aerospace engineers is expected to increase as space becomes more accessible, especially with developments in small satellites that have greater commercial viability,” the DOL explains.