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Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Confirmed: NASA Defies the Will of Congress by Raiding Planetary Science Funding [updated]
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.
Morpheus lander gets back off its feet
NASA's Project Morpheus lander completed a 74-second flight yesterday, marking the second tethered test of the new vehicle.
Download This One-Page Summary on the Threat to Planetary Science
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.
POSTPONED: Planetary Society Hangout, Planetary Resources' Chris Lewicki
The Hangout has been postponed because of technical difficulties. Stay tuned for rescheduling information.
Planetary Resources' Crowdfunded Space Telescope
A fan-funded space telescope, usable by the public? It's an awesome idea, and it appears that a wide swath of the public agrees. Planetary Resources, headed by president and chief engineer Chris Lewicki, announced a Kickstarter project yesterday, with the goal of raising $1 million toward one of their ARKYD space telescopes.
Implementing Missions Within Budget�Good News
Last decade, cost overruns on a number of planetary missions stretched NASA's budget. Recent missions have stayed within budget, but the cost of fiscal discipline may mean staying close to home.
Statement from the AAS on Proposed Elimination of NASA Science Education & Public Outreach Programs
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.
Report from the Starship Century Conference: Tuesday
This week Jon Lomberg is attending the Starship Century conference, which brings together scientists, writers, and futurists to imagine the future of interstellar travel. Here he reports on presentations by Freeman Dyson, Peter Schwartz, Robert Zubrin, Geoff Landis, Neal Stephenson, and Patti Grace Smith.
Planetary Science Echoes Through the Halls of Congress
The Planetary Society just returned from a big trip to Washington, D.C. to advocate for continued planetary exploration. Here's what happened.
Report from the Starship Century Conference: Monday
This week Jon Lomberg is attending the Starship Century conference, which brings together scientists, writers, and futurists to imagine the future of interstellar travel. The organizers are Greg and Jim Benford, and among the attendees are: David Brin, Neal Stephenson, Vernor Vinge, Joe Haldeman, Alan Steele, Geoffrey Landis, Freeman Dyson, Jill Tarter, Paul Davies, Nalaka Gunawardene, and Daniel Richter.
ISIS: Blasting a Crater on Asteroid Bennu
An exciting new option to enhance NASA's OSIRIS-REx asteroid mission has been proposed by Steve Chesley at JPL. The ISIS spacecraft would impact asteroid Bennu to expose its interior structure to OSIRIS-REx.
NASA Robs Planetary Science
NASA's leaked operating plan suggests that the agency is raiding money restored to the planetary program this year by Congress.
The White House Science Fair and an Earful for Bolden
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.
Further Analysis of NASA's 2014 Budget Proposal
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.
Cutting NASA's Education and Public Outreach Efforts Now Is Short-sighted and Counterproductive
Lars Perkins, Chairman of NAC's Education Committee, writes a defense of NASA's Education and Outreach efforts, currently facing a major cut and restructuring in 2014.
CEO Bill Nye Joins NASA Advisory Council on Education and Public Outreach
Planetary Society CEO, Bill Nye, just joined the NASA Advisory Council for Education.
House NASA Budget Hearing Live-blog
Live blog of comments and analysis from the House Science Committee's hearing on NASA's 2014 Budget.
Planetary Science Is Fading to Black, Claims New Op-Ed
A powerful new op-ed in SpaceNews traces the inevitable decline of NASA's Planetary Science missions if the current cuts to the program are implemented.
What We're Doing About NASA's Planetary Science Budget Cut
All cylinders are firing here in the Society as we rev up a big response for the White House's NASA budget that proposes another $200 million cut to Planetary Science.
Australia comes of age in the satellite world
On April 9, the current Australian government announced the first formal Australian space policy. Astronomy graduate student Michele Bannister explains what this means for the country.