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Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Blitzing Congress for NASA
Last February, a group called the Space Exploration Alliance held their annual
Congress Delays Action on NASA's 2017 Budget
Congress stands ready to punt on NASA's budget, meaning the space program will have to operate on a short budgetary leash until April of next year.
The House Makes its Counteroffer on NASA's Budget
Commerce, Justice, and Science—the House of Representatives’ subcommittee that oversees NASA spending—just released details on how they would fund the space agency in 2017. Overall, the news for the space program is very good.
The Senate Just Proposed to Slash Planetary Science Funding
The Senate has released its draft of NASA's 2017 budget which, despite increasing NASA's top-line by $300 million, would cut $270 million from the Planetary Science Division. Here's why we shouldn't worry—yet.
Challenges to Enabling a Richer Planetary Exploration Program
This past week brought to the fore two challenges for NASA’s managers as they try to enable the richest possible mix of coming planetary missions. At stake are whether the agency will be able to select two Discovery missions from the current competition, and whether there will be the possibility of a mission selected for Enceladus and/or Titan in the next decade.
NASA's New Budget Would Gut Europa But Otherwise Support Planetary Exploration
It’s clear that the President’s budget officers really don’t want to fund a mission to Europa. Other than that, the proposed Fiscal Year 2017 budget submitted by the President last week to Congress would be great for planetary exploration.
Data Dump: NASA's Planetary Science Program By the Numbers
We provide you the gritty budget breakdown by program and mission for NASA's Planetary Science Division.
First Details of the 2017 NASA Budget Request
There are few surprises in the Obama Administration's final budget proposal for NASA, though some progress is made in critical areas like science funding and NASA's overall funding.
What Does a 'Good' Budget for Planetary Science Look Like?
NASA's 2017 budget request comes out on Tuesday, here's how you can evaluate if the budget for the Planetary Science Division is good or not. It's not just about 2017, but the next five years.
Three Things to Look for in NASA’s Coming Budget Request
The 2017 budget season is almost here. Next week, the White House will release its budget request for NASA. Here are three things I will immediately look for upon its release.
[Updated] An Extraordinary Budget for NASA in 2016
Congress's plan to fund the U.S. government in 2016 includes a stellar $1.3 billion increase for NASA over last year, nearly $730 million above the President's request.
A New Budget Deal and a Best Case NASA Budget for 2016
The promise of a congressional budget deal could free up additional resources for NASA. What would a best case scenario look like, and is it possible within the deal?
President Obama Highlights Planetary Science Triumphs
At the White House Astronomy Night, President Obama highlighted some of the major triumphs of NASA and its planetary science program. Yet his 2016 budget calls for further cuts to the program.
Zero Dollars for 2016: Two Stalwart Planetary Missions Face a Troubling Future
In its 2016 budget request, the White House inexplicably proposed to end two active, scientifically productive planetary missions: the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity and the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
[Updated] The United States of Space Advocates
See which states have the highest number of space advocates writing Congress and the White House to support planetary exploration.
An August Moment to Check in on NASA’s Budget and Future
It’s August. Congress is out of session. Things are quiet. It’s as good a time as any to check in on several issues we’ve been following here at the Society, particularly with NASA’s budget prospects for the year and the future of human spaceflight policy.
The Senate Appropriations Committee�s FY 2016 CJS Bill
Congress has made good progress so far this year in moving the annual appropriations bills that fund the government. However, a looming budget battle over the sequestration and budget caps threaten to sideline progress until Congress and the White House reach agreement. Here’s the current situation.
[Upated] House of Representatives Voting on NASA's 2016 Budget Today
NASA's 2016 budget is up for a major vote in the House of Representatives today, but it's just a step on the long road to a final budget in the fall.
Why We Don't Know When the Europa Mission Will Launch
NASA has been vague about when the new mission to Europa will launch. There's a reason for that, and it's not just orbital mechanics.
[Updated] House NASA Funding Bill Proposes a Fantastic Budget for Planetary Science
The House Appropriations Committee released their vision for NASA's 2016 budget this week, which includes significant increases for the SLS and Planetary Science, but cuts Commercial Crew and Earth Science funds.