- ESA
VIVA – Space mission programs do not come cheap way, it needs around a trillion budgets. Supported by a budget of more than IDR330.8 trillion each year, NASA has been involved in many space missions at a fantastic cost.
Usually, NASA space missions are carried out either to conduct research or to establish the International Space Station. Here are the most expensive space missions in history, analyzed from various sources.
1. NASA Space Shuttle Program
Ilustrasi 100 lebih planet yang ditemukan teleskop ruang angkasa NASA Kepler.
- NASA/JPL
The Space Shuttle Program is the most expensive in history. The program was started in 1971 by NASA and the United States Air Force.
Around $209 billion (IDR 3.143 trillion) has been spent on research, manufacturing, and launches. A total of five shuttles were built, with two of them being destroyed in a disaster, along with a prototype.
2. International Space Station
Astronot bekerja di luar Stasiun Luar Angkasa Internasional (ISS).
- SpaceNews
Many people know about International Space Station (ISS) but for those who do not, it is a large spacecraft that orbits the Earth. It is a home for astronauts and crew members and includes a research lab.
The ISS is the second most expensive space project in history. This international project involved 114 countries and cost around $160 billion (IDR 2.406 trillion). The construction of ISS began in 1998. It was built and launched in different components, the first of which was launched on November 20, 1998.
3. Apollo Space Program
Roket Apollo 11 meluncur ke angkasa luar
- NASA
The Apollo program was the first-ever journey for mankind into outer space. It was a NASA project and includes the first-ever manned space flight in which Neil Armstrong and his team members landed on the moon.
The mission was launched in 1961 and cost around IDR 382 trillion and is the third most expensive space mission in history. It is also one of humanity’s biggest-ever achievements.
4. GPS
GPS is a satellite navigation system that helps to determine the location of satellites in the orbit of Earth, on Earth, and in outer space.
It is a coordinating system that provides the location, time, and distance in the worldwide WGS 84. The technology is currently in civilian use on smartphones and other devices. The total cost of the manufacture and launch of the technology was around $12 billion or around IDR 180,5 trillion.
5. James Webb Space Telescope
Teleskop James Webb.
- www.jwst.nasa.gov/Flickr
The James Webb Space Telescope is a joint venture of NASA, ESA, and CSA. The telescope will be replacing the Hubble Telescope which has been working as an astronomical observatory since 1990.
It was expected to be launched in 2020, however, that was changed to October 2021. It is an innovative technology that will prove to be a new step in the exploration of outer space. The total budget cost of the James Webb Space Telescope is expected to be around $8.8 billion or IDR 150 trillion upon completion.
