Day of Action: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Day of Action?

The Day of Action is The Planetary Society's premier global advocacy event. We provide opportunities to meet with their congressional offices to advocate for our three core enterprises: planetary exploration, planetary defense, and the search for life.

The event takes place in Washington, D.C. The Planetary Society books the meetings, provides training and talking points, and otherwise helps ensure a successful and rewarding experience for its participating members.

Does it cost money to register?

Yes. Our registration fee helps offset a portion of the administrative costs associated with the in-person Day of Action. This includes booking your meetings, securing meeting and event spaces, and purchasing related software licenses. We offer discounted rates for students and for early registrations.

If you cannot participate in person, we offer a variety of online advocacy actions that you can use to support the effort.

What is the time commitment to participate?

For the in-person D.C. experience, you should expect to engage in 3 - 7 meetings throughout the day. Meetings can occur as early as 9 am and finish as late as 5:30 pm. Many people take the day off of work to accommodate this, or otherwise maintain a flexible schedule to ensure they can attend every meeting. In addition, the Sunday afternoon prior to the Day of Action is for a mandatory training session. Expect to spend a few hours before the training reviewing materials and preparing for your meetings in the months prior to the Day of Action itself.

For people pledging to take individual actions, expect to spend less than an hour on our activities, which can be done at your discretion.

What's it like?

The most common experience of our participants is exhilaration. It's rewarding and fun to share your passion with the people who can make a positive difference in the future of space exploration.

Your schedule is provided via a custom web portal that provides meeting information and your schedule, participant information, and talking points. We use our online Member Community to help you share your success stories with other Society members and staff. We also provide special events like exclusive mission briefings by leaders in the scientific community and member gatherings.

But don't take our word for it; you can read advocate testimonials.

Do I need to be a Member of The Planetary Society?

We strongly encourage you to be a member when you participate, though we do not require it. We have a range of affordable membership levels, and singing up as a member helps to support our yearlong advocacy work. If you are not a member and want to participate in our Day of Action, please consider joining our organization.

Do I need to be a space expert or an experienced space advocate?

No! You have a right to express your views to your political representatives regardless of your background or occupation. If you love space, you can tell your lawmakers that you'd like them to prioritize investments in space. Simple as that.

That said, we offer pathways to deepen your knowledge before the Day of Action with background materials and our free online course, Space Advocacy 101. We also provide training and opportunities to practice before your meetings so that you can effectively advocate for space.

Do I need to be a U.S. citizen?

You must be a U.S. resident to register for the full Day of Action. Individuals living outside the United States may pledge to take action in support of our advocacy activities.

I am a civil servant, can I participate?

Yes! As a federal employee, you have a statutory right under 5 U.S.C. § 7211 to communicate with or petition Congress individually or collectively. However, you must do so on your own time and without using government resources or presenting yourself as an agency representative.

If you have questions about how these rules apply to your specific situation, please consult your agency's ethics office or special counsel for guidance. Your voice still matters, and we welcome you to join the Day of Action in a way that fits both your passion for space and your obligations as a civil servant.

What will I be advocating for?

We focus on issues related to The Planetary Society's three core enterprises: planetary exploration (both human and robotic), planetary defense, and the search for life. We always include detailed proposals for NASA funding and specific missions related to those key areas.

Will I meet directly with my member of Congress?

Sometimes. We always attempt to schedule an in-person meeting with your lawmaker, but due to scheduling complexities, you will generally meet with a high-level staff member in their Washington, D.C. office.

Where do I stay in Washington, D.C.? How do I get around?

We have a page of recommendations for accommodations and travel tips for Washington, D.C.

Is it effective?

Yes. Research by the Congressional Management Foundation shows that, for non-partisan issues like space exploration, in-person constituent advocacy has the highest impact on the decision process for lawmakers: