More nations are heading into space

THE space industry is led by companies, not governments. But nations remain more active than ever. The number of countries with activities in space has doubled in the past decade. Nearly 60 nations now have satellites and projects, and around 20 others have investment plans. Government spending on civil space programmes reached $44 billion last year, driven in part by poor countries like Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.

When military programmes are included, however, total spending fell for the first time since 1995, estimates Euroconsult, a space consultancy. (Many budgets are veiled, so a proper reckoning is hard.) Governments cut back as part of austerity measures, particularly in America. But in recent years America's spending has hit stratospheric levels. It still accounts for more than half of all government space spending, albeit down from three-quarters. Russia, America's traditional space rival, has increased spending too. Half of all the people currently in space are Russian (as this cool site shows).

China has also boosted its budget, though it remains modest relative to its GDP. Its space programme is a source of national pride and commercial conquest. The country aims to launch 100 satellites over the next four years, far more than any other. Its satellites compete with those from the West, especially in Africa and Latin America. A third wave of countries, including Colombia, Ghana and Gabon want to get into the space race with observational satellites for resource monitoring. But for the moment, they lack the funds and the expertise to operate them.