Fifty years after the Apollo 11 astronauts first walked on the moon, global investment in space is blasting off again. According to new data from space-market specialists Euroconsult, last year 18 countries spent at least $200 million on space-related activities, from satellites to exploration. While the U.S. remains on top, other nations are gaining. China has increased space spending 349% over 15 years. That’s just on the government side. Private investment in space is also reaching a new orbit. A total of $22.3 billion has been invested in 476 space companies since 2009, according to investment firm Space Angels.
A version of this article appears in the August 2019 issue of Fortune with the headline “Money Races Into Space.”
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