Glossary of terms.
Source: Compiled by CQ Researcher staff
Data for the graphic are as follows:
| Term | Definitions |
| Artemis | Long-term NASA plan to return humans to the moon and later send them to Mars |
| Artemis Accords | International agreement governing the use of outer space, signed by the United States and 11 other countries |
| Crew Dragon | SpaceX capsule that in 2020 became the first privately owned spacecraft to carry a crew into orbit |
| Dragonfly | Future NASA mission that will explore Saturn's moon Titan |
| Falcon Heavy | SpaceX rocket NASA plans to use to launch parts of Gateway |
| Gateway | Orbiting lunar outpost to be built by NASA and Japan |
| Ingenuity | Small, robotic NASA helicopter operating on Mars and the first aircraft to make a powered, controlled flight on another planet |
| National Space Council | White House council that advises the president on space policy |
| Orion | Space capsule that NASA plans to use to carry astronauts to the moon and Mars |
| Perseverance | NASA rover conducting research on Mars |
| Space Launch System | Super-heavy-lift rocket that will launch Orion capsule into space |
| Starship | Reusable rocket and space capsule that SpaceX will use for missions to Mars and other deep-space destinations. |
| Tianwen-1 | Chinese spacecraft orbiting Mars |
| U.S. Space Command | Previously inactive combatant command reactivated by President Donald Trump in 2019 and responsible for military operations in space |
| U.S. Space Force | New military branch created by President Trump in 2019 that trains and equips personnel who would fight for U.S. Space Command |