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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Much has passed in decades past
With anniversaries come reflections, and there’s a lot to look back on in the history of space.
NASA’s economic impact? Hundreds of thousands of jobs.
In 2021, NASA supported an estimated 339,645 jobs across the United States. A new report details the astounding economic benefits of the space agency in every state.
Best space pictures of the month: November 2022
NASA's chief of exploration mission planning Nujoud Merancy walks us through a picture from the Orion spacecraft.
What the 2022 midterm elections mean for NASA
Republicans regain control of the House. The Senate remains under Democratic control. This divided governance could slow down the pace of space legislation, even for “must-pass” items like NASA's annual budget.
Gifts from above
The Cosmos has so many gifts to give us, from awe-inspiring images to fascinating discoveries. We’ve got our own set of gifts to recommend too.
2022 impact report
A review of the results The Planetary Society achieved in 2022 thanks to the support of our members.
The best gift ideas for space fans in 2022
The perfect presents for the space enthusiasts in your life, hand-picked by our staff and other space fans.
The Space Advocate Newsletter, November 2022
Divided control of Congress could slow the pace of space.
Launching and descending
Artemis I is on its way to the Moon, Planetary Academy is here to inspire your kids, and LightSail 2 has come down.
LightSail 2 completes mission with atmospheric reentry
The three-and-a-half-year solar sailing mission showed LightSail 2 could change its orbit with sunlight alone.
NASA’s Artemis I mission has successfully launched
Despite several setbacks and delays, NASA's Artemis I mission successfully launched from Kennedy Space Center on November 16, 2022.
Meet The Planetary Academy
Our lifetime love of space exploration can start when we are very young. And so, we have developed The Planetary Academy, a 100% space-related membership created for kids 9 years old and younger.
LightSail 2 is about to burn up
After 3.5 years, 18,000 orbits of the Earth, and 8 million kilometers (5 million miles) traveled, The Planetary Society’s successful LightSail 2 solar sail spacecraft will burn up as it reenters the Earth’s atmosphere in the next few days.
Artemis I launch guide: What to expect
NASA's Space Launch System rocket is sending the Orion crew capsule to the Moon and back.
Two pale blue dots
Reflecting on Carl Sagan’s influence on this pale blue dot we call Earth.
VOICE: Will this Chinese candidate mission to Venus fly?
Inside the Venus Volcano Imaging and Climate Explorer (VOICE) proposal, which appears to be gaining momentum.
A year in review and a reddish hue
Get ready for a total lunar eclipse and pick your favorites from this year in space.
Best space pictures of the month: October 2022
Stunning views of Europa and the Eagle Nebula headline our roundup of space images released last month.
Creepy Cosmos! Scary space! Petrifying planets!
An especially spooky Halloween edition of The Downlink.
Planetary Radio has a new host
After 20 years at the helm, our friend and colleague Mat Kaplan is retiring as the host of Planetary Radio. The good news is the show will be in excellent hands after Mat’s departure. We can finally announce Planetary Radio’s new host is Sarah Al-Ahmed.