Since 2002, Planetary Radio has visited with a scientist, engineer, project manager, advocate, or writer who provides a unique perspective on the quest for knowledge about our Solar System and beyond. The full show archive is available for free.

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Space Policy Edition: The cultural rituals of space advocacy, with Linda Billings

Space outreach expert and social scientist Linda Billings talks with host Casey Dreier about the language space advocates use to share their message.

Space Policy Edition: Mars via the Nuclear Option

NASA’s Bhavya Lal returns to explain the challenges and big advantages of nuclear propulsion in space.

Space Policy Edition: The Pentagon's UFO Report, Featuring Sarah Scoles

The Pentagon has released its assessment of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. Casey Dreier and science journalist Sarah Scoles talk about what’s behind the renewed interest in UFOs and Sarah’s book, They Are Already Here.

Amateur Astronomers Saving the World

Planetary Society grants have enabled amateur astronomers to discover and track asteroids that cross Earth’s path. We’ll meet two of them.

Space Policy Edition: NASA's 2022 Budget Request Says "Yes"

The White House’s proposed 2022 NASA budget is almost entirely great news, as is the announcement that two complementary orbiters will explore Venus.

Space Policy Edition: How Starship at the Moon Brings NASA Closer to Mars

NASA chose SpaceX’s Starship as the sole winner of its human lunar lander development contract in a move that may also take us closer to Mars.

Space Policy Edition: Biden Names His NASA Administrator

It looks like former senator Bill Nelson will be NASA’s next administrator. Casey Dreier and Mat Kaplan talk about his nomination and other developments in Washington D.C., including The Planetary Society’s very successful Day of Action.

Space Policy Edition: SpaceX's Early, Desperate Days (with Eric Berger)

Elon Musk’s SpaceX nearly failed 15 years ago as it struggled to launch its first rocket. Eric Berger has written about this challenging early era and how it helped create today’s successful, innovative company.

Space Policy Edition: The Big Picture on U.S. Science Funding

Matt Hourihan of the American Association for the Advancement of Science joins Casey Dreier for a deep dive into the U.S. government’s funding of science research and development.

Space Policy Edition: A Mob at the U.S. Capitol

Casey Dreier and our special guest, former National Space Council chief of staff Jared Zambrano-Stout, consider the troubling events at the U.S. Capitol in this special episode.

Planetary Society All-Stars Review 2020 Space Milestones

In spite of everything, 2020 was a good year for space exploration according to five of The Planetary Society’s experts.

Space Policy Edition: Operation Moonglow and the Global Impact of Apollo

Space historian Teasel Muir-Harmony argues in her fascinating new book that the Apollo lunar program was promoted as a triumph of, not for, all mankind.

Space Policy Edition: NASA's Post-Election Landscape

With the United States election over, Casey Dreier and Mat Kaplan welcome back Planetary Society Chief of D.C. Operations Brendan Curry for a review of what may be in store for the U.S. space program.

Space Policy Edition: Divining Biden's Space Policy with Jeff Foust

Where would a Biden Administration take US space policy and NASA? Casey Dreier and space journalist Jeff Foust synthesize a best guess based on the available evidence.

Have We Found Evidence of Life on Venus?

It could be a profound and historic discovery made on Earth’s nearest planetary neighbor.

Space Policy Edition: The Moon-to-Mars Strategy, with Dr. Scott Pace

The National Space Council’s Scott Pace talks with Casey Dreier about the current administration’s sweeping new strategy that integrates all elements of space development and exploration.

Space Policy Edition: Why the SLS is a National Asset, and Why That Matters

The Coalition for Deep Space Exploration’s Mary Lynne Dittmar talks with Casey Dreier about how and why spacefaring nations prioritize funding for space development and exploration.

A Mars Mission Begins, a Comet Exits, and the Future of Planetary Science

The United Arab Emirates is headed for Mars as comet NEOWISE speeds back to the outer reaches of the solar system, and three white papers address the future of planetary science and defense.

Space Policy Edition: A Trillion-Dollar Space Economy?

How big is the space economy, and how big might it grow? Space policy expert Dr. Bhavya Lal brings the numbers down to Earth in a great conversation with Casey Dreier.

Space Policy Edition: NASA’s Gamble Pays Off

The safe arrival of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon at the International Space Station is a huge success for NASA and policymakers who gambled years ago on the value of commercial partnerships for the agency.

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