Blog Archive

MAVEN with solar panels open in the clean room for the last time

NASA's MAVEN Mission Spared from Shutdown
Launch preparations will resume

Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/10/03 04:40 CDT | 3 comments

Launch preparations will resume for NASA's MAVEN spacecraft, due to launch to Mars on November 18th. Work had previously been suspended, potentially causing the spacecraft to miss its once-every-26-month launch opportunity.

Our Debt to NASA - Fighting the Pernicious Myth of NASA as Unnecessary

Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/09/10 04:08 CDT | 9 comments

A recent article in the NY Times Sunday Magazine highlights how the pernicious myth of NASA as wasteful spending perpetuates through our culture.

NASA Backs Off From Additional Planetary Cuts in 2013
Operating plan provides $1.271 billion

Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/09/01 03:44 CDT | 5 comments

The final operating plan for the space agency provided $75 million more to planetary exploration than initially proposed.

Finally, an FY13 NASA Planetary Budget, Just 11 Months Late

Posted by Van Kane on 2013/08/30 05:32 CDT | 10 comments

The final news for NASA's Planetary Science program is better than had been proposed, but still a substantial cut over the previous year. There may be serious future consequences as a result of the smaller program.

August Advocacy Update: Where We Stand
The House and Senate have increased funding for Planetary Science thanks to your letters and phone calls

Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/08/15 07:02 CDT | 6 comments

Planetary exploration sees strong support from both parties in the current budget process, but we have a long way to go before a budget is passed this year.

Congress Rejects NASA's First Operating Plan
Attempt to Raid Planetary Science Funding Stopped

Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/07/15 11:33 CDT | 1 comments

NASA's plan to raid Planetary Science funding to pay for sequester cuts in other science programs was rejected by Congress earlier this month. NASA is now working on a new plan that has yet to be submitted for approval.

NASA's Budget, 1982 - 2014, Adjusted for Inflation

House Committee Approves Smallest NASA Budget Since 1986

Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/07/12 12:40 CDT | 8 comments

This budget, if enacted, would be the smallest budget NASA has seen since the mid '80s, when adjusted for inflation.

If we started today, how long would it take to get to Mars? With this budget, never.
Analysis of the House Science Committee Hearing on the 2013 NASA Authorization Bill

Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/06/19 04:38 CDT | 6 comments

The House of Representatives held a hearing today to discuss their proposed NASA authorization bill, which would fund Planetary Science, cut Earth Science, forbid asteroid retrieval, and command NASA to pursue a path to Mars via the Moon.

Confirmed: NASA Defies the Will of Congress by Raiding Planetary Science Funding [updated]

Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/06/10 03:40 CDT | 13 comments

Despite congressional rejection of massive cuts to Planetary Science this year, NASA has found a way to implement the cuts internally and use the money for other purposes.

TPS One-pager on 2014 Budget for Planetary Science

Download This One-Page Summary on the Threat to Planetary Science

Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/06/05 07:11 CDT | 5 comments

When we visit Congress, this is what we leave them with. This one page summarizes the entire threat to continued planetary exploration at NASA in the proposed 2014 budget.

Implementing Missions Within Budget -- Good News

Posted by Van Kane on 2013/05/30 12:33 CDT | 1 comments

Last decade, cost overruns on a number of planetary missions stretched NASA's budget. Recent missions, though, have stayed within budget. However, the cost of fiscal discipline may have meant staying close to home.

Statement from the AAS on Proposed Elimination of NASA Science Education & Public Outreach Programs

Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/05/23 02:11 CDT | 2 comments

The American Astronomical Society has issued a strongly worded statement against NASA's proposed elimination of its education and public outreach programs, and I agree with it.

Planetary Science Echoes Through the Halls of Congress
We traveled to D.C. to advocate for continued planetary exploration at NASA

Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/05/21 02:12 CDT | 3 comments

The Planetary Society just returned from a big trip to Washington, D.C. to advocate for continued planetary exploration. Here's what happened.

NASA Robs Planetary Science
Leaked document shows NASA funding other programs with planetary money

Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/05/15 05:04 CDT | 5 comments

NASA's leaked operating plan suggests that the agency is raiding money restored to the planetary program this year by Congress.

The Planetary Society Travels to Washington, D.C. Next Week

Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/05/09 01:28 CDT | 2 comments

We're storming D.C. next week to raise awareness of continued cuts to NASA's Planetary Science Division.

The White House Science Fair and an Earful for Bolden

Posted by Bill Nye on 2013/05/01 11:53 CDT | 9 comments

I meet the future of science in the United States, and I speak directly to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden about my concerns for Planetary Science funding.

American Astronomical Society Criticizes NASA Planetary Science Budget

Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/04/30 01:38 CDT

The AAS made a strong critique of proposed cuts to NASA's Planetary Science program today.

Further Analysis of NASA's 2014 Budget Proposal

Posted by Van Kane on 2013/04/29 11:19 CDT | 7 comments

Now that groups and individuals have had time to digest the proposed 2014 NASA Planetary Science budget, they are highlighting the impacts of the proposed cuts. We are also getting the first independent reactions to the proposal to bring an asteroid to lunar orbit as a target for human exploration.

House NASA Budget Hearing Live-blog

Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/04/24 12:59 CDT | 3 comments

Live blog of comments and analysis from the House Science Committee's hearing on NASA's 2014 Budget.

Twitter Accounts for Key Space Representatives

Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/04/23 01:05 CDT

Here are the official Twitter accounts for key people in Congress associated with supporting Planetary Science.