Articles

Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.

Billions wasted, mysteries unsolved: The missions NASA may be forced to abandon

Proposed NASA cuts would cancel dozens of space missions — including spacecraft already paid for, launched, and making discoveries.

NASA's FY 2025 budget request is not enough

Federal spending caps and inflation take a bite out of NASA's ambitions.

The science value of Mars Sample Return

The project has the potential to transform our understanding of the Solar System and provide evidence of life beyond Earth.

Can SpaceX’s Starship save Mars Sample Return?

Though promising conceptually, Starship presents more questions than answers for NASA's Mars Sample Return needs.

The path forward for Mars Sample Return

A brief summary of The Planetary Society's policy principles and recommendations for Mars Sample Return.

How layoffs at JPL can be traced to a stalemate in Congress

A battle over the future of Mars Sample Return is taking a toll on NASA’s workforce.

What went wrong with Mars Sample Return

An edited transcript of an interview with Orlando Figueroa, chair of the independent review team that evaluated NASA's Mars Sample Return program.

The future of Mars Sample Return

An overview of the 2023 Independent Review Board report on the state and future of Mars Sample Return.

That’s a mare

An unusual lunar feature, Saturn’s shining rings, and Mars’ complex gullies.

The U.S. Senate threatens to cancel Mars Sample Return

The House has yet to weigh in. And much can still happen before this threat is realized.

The Space Advocate Newsletter, July 2023

What's going on with Mars Sample Return?

Searching the skies to keep us all alive

Astronomers around the world are working to protect the Earth from asteroid impacts, with the help of Planetary Society members and donors.

What’s going on with Mars Sample Return?

NASA's biggest science project is undergoing an unprecedented second independent review amidst growing cost estimates and daunting technical and managerial challenges.

Red hot space

This week’s roundup of space news and exploration inspiration will leave you seeing red (in the best way possible).

Your guide to water on Mars

Mars used to have oceans, lakes, and rivers. Where did the water go, how much is left, and how can we use it for science and exploration?

Tianwen-3: China’s Mars sample return mission

China's Tianwen-3 aims to be the first to collect samples from Mars and deliver them to Earth, potentially landing back home two years ahead of the NASA and the European Space Agency MSR project