Articles

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

Defend your planet

With so many asteroids out there, it’s up to us to defend our planet from impacts. Find out how you can make a difference.

LightSail 2 image of Madagascar and Mozambique

LightSail 2 getting lower as it completes third year in space

An update on The Planetary Society's LightSail 2 mission, which launched in 2015.

How do planets get rings?

The planets in our Solar System show that no two ring systems are exactly alike.

Updates from our Shoemaker NEO Grant winners

Brief updates on what the latest Shoemaker NEO grant winners have been working on.

Persevering through it all

Exploration will always face setbacks, but this week’s Downlink reminds us of the impressive human ability to persevere.

A joint-letter in support of NEO Surveyor

The National Space Society and The Planetary Society jointly argue for funding the asteroid-hunting NEO Surveyor mission.

Why can't the ISS operate forever?

Here are the reasons the International Space Station (ISS) needs to deorbit eventually.

First steps and big leaps

Technological innovation is a big part of the fun of space exploration, and you can help make it happen.

Artist concept of the surface of TRAPPIST-1f

What might JWST reveal about TRAPPIST-1?

We spoke with the scientists leading the first observations of TRAPPIST-1 using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in order to understand what mysteries their observations will help unlock.

The Space Advocate Newsletter, June 2022

NASA's proposal to slash funding for NEO Surveyor highlights the lessons unlearned after COVID.

Your impact: June Solstice 2022

Meet the first-ever winners of our Science and Technology Empowered by the Public Grant awards!

Pathfinder’s view of the Martian surface

How The Planetary Society got to Mars

The story of how the first-ever names on Mars became those of Planetary Society members.

Renaissance in red

Learn how Pathfinder set the stage for Mars sample return.

Mars Outreach team at the Pathfinder landing

Remembering our journey

Planetary Society members share their stories from the Mars Pathfinder landing

Request for Proposals for the 2022 Science and Technology Empowered by the Public (STEP) Grants

We are excited to announce a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for our Science and Technology Empowered by the Public (STEP) Grants.

A hazy shade of winter

A Martian explorer hunkers down for winter and a planet’s haze is explained.

Artist's concept of near-Earth asteroids

China is getting serious about planetary defense

Here is what we know about the capabilities and technologies China is considering developing in the near future for near-Earth object monitoring, cataloging, early warning and response.