Get Involved
Political Advocacy - Save Our Science!
We are at a crucial turning point in planetary exploration.
After a decade of success with Cassini at Saturn, the twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity, and the take-your-breath-away excitement of the skycrane landing of Curiosity on Mars, NASA's planetary exploration program was rewarded with budget cuts that create devastating immediate and long-term consequences for NASA's ability to explore the Solar System.
The White House has proposed deep cuts to Planetary Science for 2014, even though similar cuts were soundly rejected by Congress last year.
Planetary Science is a division within NASA responsible for all robotic space exploration beyond the Earth and Sun. The most inspiring and scientifically important missions are impossible if these cuts go through, and merely maintaining support for current missions will be be difficult.
The Planetary Society maintains an active lobbying effort to support NASA's missions of exploration, but we need your help to make a difference.
The Save Our Science Action Center helps you learn about the issues, both immediate and long-term, connects you to your representatives in Congress and the President (if you live outside the U.S.) and lets you know the status of planetary science.
Latest Advocacy News
[Updated] A Government Shutdown Could Delay MAVEN's Launch to Mars
2013/09/30 05:17 CDT | 2 comments
NASA confirmed that a government shutdown could affect pre-launch processing of the MAVEN spacecraft, currently scheduled to launch to Mars on November 18th. More »
Plutonium-238 is Crucial for Space Exploration – and it's Running Out
2013/09/20 11:29 CDT | 3 comments
Plutonium-238 provides electricity to deep space missions, but NASA only has a little bit left. A new article in Wired highlights the disastrous consequences of no plutonium for use in space, something the Planetary Society is currently fighting for in Washington, D.C. More »
NASA Backs Off From Additional Planetary Cuts in 2013
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. More »
SpaceNews Highlights the Planetary Society's Advocacy Work
2013/08/30 06:17 CDT | 2 comments
The Planetary Society is "making a difference" in the space industry, according to SpaceNews, the world's leading newspaper covering the space business. More »
August Advocacy Update: Where We Stand
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. More »
NASA Leadership Moving On
2013/08/09 01:45 CDT | 2 comments
Both Deputy Administrator Lori Garver and CFO Beth Robinson are leaving NASA within the next few months. More »
"NASA non-concurs"
2013/07/30 08:58 CDT | 7 comments
NASA responds to its advisory council's recommendations from April of this year. More »
Remembering the Pluto Campaign: A Success Story
2013/07/22 02:11 CDT | 3 comments
The New Horizons mission to Pluto survived many near-death encounters with cancellation during its development. The Planetary Society worked the whole time to ensure it would launch. More »
Congress Rejects NASA's First Operating Plan
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. More »
House Committee Approves Smallest NASA Budget Since 1986
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. More »
Tell Your Friends!
Already wrote Congress and looking for more to do? Tell your friends and colleagues about this issue. We've made it easy for you.
Donate to Help Maximize Your Impact
Planetary Society Position Statements
Learn the official stance by the Planetary Society on the latest space-related issues and proposals.
Current Planetary Funding Level
Currently funded at $1.271 billion for FY13, well below minimum.
Share Your Sequestration Story
Are you a working scientist, graduate student, or teacher who has been affected by the Sequester at NASA? Share your story with us so we can highlight the immediate and long-lasting effects of this policy.
Support Our Advocacy Program
We need your financial support to maintain the pressure on Washington. Please chip in $10, $25, or $50 today. Any amount helps.
