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Small BodiesStories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
House subcommittee votes to slash NASA
Today the U.S. House of Representative subcommittee charged with appropriating funds to NASA mandated a draconian cut of almost $2 billion from the space agency's proposed budget.
From Earth Orbit to Washington, D.C.
About a week ago, I attended the meeting of an organization I am excited about: the Alliance for Earth Observation. The conference was remarkable.
URGENT: Call Appropriations Committee members to support Pu-238 production
I just got the following email from the American Geophysical Union (AGU), requesting anyone whose Congressperson sits on the Appropriations Committee to place a phone call to support the production of Plutonium-238, the isotope of plutonium that powers spacecraft that cannot run on solar power.
Memo to Australians: Tell your government if space exploration benefits your community
Australia's Space Policy Unit is conducting a survey of people in the commercial space industry, state and local governments, and education and research sectors as part of an effort to assess the economic value of civil space to the country.
Update on the NASA Authorization Bill
Yesterday, the Planetary Society issued a statement about the request that the U.S. House of Representatives suspend the rules when voting on the NASA Authorization bill, saying, in part,
Urgent action required: Please call Senators TODAY
It's time to make phone calls to support space exploration. We're sending the following letter to all our members today, and urge everyone reading this to pick up the phone and take action.
Bill Takes a Job
Bill gives an introduction about his feelings on his new position here at The Planetary Society.
U.S. Citizens: Please write your elected representatives about restarting plutonium-238 production!
I'm hereby posting a request that was sent earlier today to members of the Division of Planetary Sciences (DPS) of the American Astronomical Society by its chair, Candy Hansen.
More Support for the 2011 Budget Proposal
The new joint statement by space organizations representing a large segment of the science and space-interest community, including The Planetary Society, is a terrific endorsement for the 2011 budget proposal for NASA.
Apollo Astronaut Rusty Schweickart Boosts New NASA Plan
It's the hottest debate I've seen in 30 years of following space policy -- this uproar over NASA's proposed FY 2011 budget.
Planetary Society Tells Congress "Reassert Optimism, Inspire Future Generations"
Two weeks ago, The Planetary Society submitted a statement to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee considering the fiscal year 2011 budget request for NASA.
From the Executive Director: Space Exploration is Non-partisan
I've been getting a tremendous amount of e-mail (and old-fashioned postal mail, too) in response to the new plan for human space exploration announced by the Obama Administration.
Back from the President's Space Conference
Yesterday, I -- together with Planetary Society Board members Jim Bell, Bill Nye, Neil Tyson, Scott Hubbard, and Elon Musk -- attended President Obama's Space Conference in Florida.
Some Pictures from President Obama's Florida Space Conference
Bill Nye, Jim Bell, Scott Hubbard, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Elon Musk, and Lou Friedman -- all members of The Planetary Society's Board of Directors -- attended President Obama's Space Conference at the Kennedy Space Center today.
Programming note: Florida space conference
As I write this I am watching President Obama walk down the steps from Air Force One to attend the Florida space conference and deliver a speech at 14:40 EDT (18:40 UTC) about the future of American space exploration.
Planetary Society leaders to attend tomorrow's Florida Space Conference
Members of The Planetary Society's Board of Directors have been invited to hear President Obama present his new approach to human spaceflight tomorrow at the Kennedy Space Center.
Join the Fight for NASA's Future!
The U.S. Administration's request for the 2011 NASA budget calls for a bold recasting of the agency's path for human space exploration.
Planetary Society Urges Congress to Endorse NASA Budget
The Planetary Society today issued a statement supporting the budget increase for NASA and the Administration's proposal to involve the commercial industry in human space flight.
Countdown to the Budget...
The world's space community -- and the public -- is awaiting the Obama Administration's new plan for human and robotic space flight. We expect the plan will be unveiled as part of the formal submission to Congress of the Administration's proposed budget for the Federal Government.
Augustine Committee Final Report
The Augustine Committee, which is reviewing the U.S. human space flight program, presented its final report today at a NASA press conference.