Casey DreierFeb 13, 2020

161 meetings. 115 members. 28 states. 1 Day of Action.

Soggy weather did not deter members of The Planetary Society from descending upon the U.S. capitol for our annual Day of Action last Monday. Having traversed the country on their own dime, our members boldly went from meeting to congressional meeting, advocating for investments in planetary exploration, planetary defense, and the search for life.

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Even after some last-minute cancellations, the attendance for the 2020 Day of Action was our largest ever, representing a 22% growth over the previous year. We met representatives and lawmakers from 161 congressional offices. In addition, nearly a thousand messages were sent to Congress by Planetary Society advocates around the country who had pledged to take action.

Our members came from 28 different states. They were young and old. Some fondly remember Apollo, while many have never seen humans depart low-Earth orbit. Some were scientists or engineers, though the vast majority were just fans of space. But they were all united by core beliefs: that space science and exploration are important. That it is worth doing. That it benefits the nation and the world.

It is a testament to their commitment that these individuals used their time and resources to come to Washington, D.C. and advocate for space. It's not only impressive—it's inspiring. It's the essence of The Planetary Society. We came together to do the hard work of advancing space science and exploration. Together we were stronger than we were apart.

Thank you to all of the members who joined us in 2020.

Training for the Day of Action
Training for the Day of Action Members of The Planetary Society discuss strategies for their congressional office visits during the training session for the 2020 Day of Action.Image: Antonio Peronace for The Planetary Society
A Soggy Day of Action
A Soggy Day of Action Planetary Society members from California endured the rain as they went from meeting to congressional meeting on The Planetary Society's 2020 Day of Action.Image: Antonio Peronace for The Planetary Society
Day of Action participants keep the big picture in mind
Day of Action participants keep the big picture in mind Dr. Pontus Brandt of the Applied Physics Laboratory shares results of the recent Interstellar Probe mission study with members of The Planetary Society at the 2020 Day of Action in Washington, D.C.Image: Antonio Peronace for The Planetary Society
Bill Nye with Participants of the 2020 Day of Action
Bill Nye with Participants of the 2020 Day of Action Planetary Society CEO Bill Nye celebrates with participants of the 2020 Day of Action in Washington, D.C.Image: Antonio Peronace for The Planetary Society
A Successful Day of Action
A Successful Day of Action More than 100 members of The Planetary Society from 28 states came to Washington, D.C. for the 2020 Day of Action.Image: Antonio Peronace for The Planetary Society

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