Planetary Radio • Aug 13, 2025

A “Star Trek” future: Your place in space

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On This Episode

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Robert Picardo

Board of Directors of The Planetary Society; Actor, Member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

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Tim Russ

Actor and Amateur Astronomer

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Andrew Pauly

Director of Marketing for The Planetary Society

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Ambre Trujillo

Digital Community Manager for The Planetary Society

Jack kiraly portrait 2023

Jack Kiraly

Director of Government Relations for The Planetary Society

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Bruce Betts

Chief Scientist / LightSail Program Manager for The Planetary Society

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Sarah Al-Ahmed

Planetary Radio Host and Producer for The Planetary Society

What do “Star Trek,” space advocacy, and the fight to save NASA science have in common? In this episode of Planetary Radio, we share a special panel recorded live at STLV: Trek to Vegas 2025, featuring Robert Picardo, actor and Planetary Society board member who played the Emergency Medical Hologram on ”Star Trek: Voyager,” and Tim Russ, actor, telescope enthusiast, and Voyager’s Lt. Tuvok. They’re joined by Andrew Pauly, director of marketing at The Planetary Society, and Ambre Trujillo, the Society’s digital community manager, for a conversation about how science fiction inspires real-world space exploration — and how fans can take action to protect it.

Later in the episode, Jack Kiraly, director of government relations at The Planetary Society, discusses the recent wave of NASA employee departures and what it could mean for the future of space science. Then, in What’s Up, our Chief Scientist Bruce Betts reflects on the end of NASA’s Lunar Trailblazer mission.

Andrew Pauly and Ambre Trujillo at STLV 2025
Andrew Pauly and Ambre Trujillo at STLV 2025 Andrew Pauly, director of marketing at The Planetary Society, and Ambre Trujillo, the Society’s digital community manager, pose together at Creation Entertainment’s STLV: Trek to Vegas 2025 convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. The pair participated in the panel “A Star Trek Future: Your Place in Space,” alongside “Star Trek” actors Robert Picardo and Tim Russ, to discuss how science fiction inspires real-world space exploration and advocacy.Image: The Planetary Society
Robert Picardo in Congress
Robert Picardo in Congress Society Board Member Robert Picardo boldly advocating where no holographic doctor has advocated before.Image: Antonio Peronace for The Planetary Society

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Tim Russ at the Griffith Observatory - The Planetary Post In this update from The Planetary Post with Robert Picardo: star parties are magical events where one can observe the wonders of our night sky...and have a surprise Star Trek: Voyager reunion. Also, news about seven Earth-sized planets orbiting a red dwarf star, plus learn how you can help prevent an asteroid impact disaster.

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What can we learn from Star Trek? Tim Russ played the logical Tuvok on Star Trek: Voyager. His inspired passion for astronomy and exploration continues to this day. Now he asks what we can learn from stories like Star Trek to become better explorers in the real world.

Lunar Trailblazer
Lunar Trailblazer Render of the Lunar Trailblazer orbiter at the Moon.Image: Lockheed Martin