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Stories, updates, insights, and original analysis from The Planetary Society.
Announcement for DPS 2013: New plan for "Agency Night" features...me!
I'll be representing The Planetary Society on a quickly-replanned panel at tomorrow's Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting Agency Night, in the absence of any representatives from federal funding agencies.
NASA's MAVEN Mission Spared from Shutdown
Launch preparations will resume for NASA's MAVEN spacecraft, due to launch to Mars on November 18th. Work had previously been suspended, potentially causing the spacecraft to miss its once-every-26-month launch opportunity.
Our Debt to NASA - Fighting the Pernicious Myth of NASA as Unnecessary
A recent article in the NY Times Sunday Magazine highlights how the pernicious myth of NASA as wasteful spending perpetuates through our culture.
NASA Backs Off From Additional Planetary Cuts in 2013
The final operating plan for the space agency provided $75 million more to planetary exploration than initially proposed.
Finally, an FY13 NASA Planetary Budget, Just 11 Months Late
The final news for NASA's Planetary Science program is better than had been proposed, but still a substantial cut over the previous year. There may be serious future consequences as a result of the smaller program.
August Advocacy Update: Where We Stand
Planetary exploration sees strong support from both parties in the current budget process, but we have a long way to go before a budget is passed this year.
Congress Rejects NASA's First Operating Plan
NASA's plan to raid Planetary Science funding to pay for sequester cuts in other science programs was rejected by Congress earlier this month. NASA is now working on a new plan that has yet to be submitted for approval.
House Committee Approves Smallest NASA Budget Since 1986
This budget, if enacted, would be the smallest budget NASA has seen since the mid '80s, when adjusted for inflation.
If we started today, how long would it take to get to Mars? With this budget, never.
The House of Representatives held a hearing today to discuss their proposed NASA authorization bill, which would fund Planetary Science, cut Earth Science, forbid asteroid retrieval, and command NASA to pursue a path to Mars via the Moon.
Confirmed: NASA Defies the Will of Congress by Raiding Planetary Science Funding [updated]
Despite congressional rejection of massive cuts to Planetary Science this year, NASA has found a way to implement the cuts internally and use the money for other purposes.
Download This One-Page Summary on the Threat to Planetary Science
When we visit Congress, this is what we leave them with. This one page summarizes the entire threat to continued planetary exploration at NASA in the proposed 2014 budget.
Implementing Missions Within Budget�Good News
Last decade, cost overruns on a number of planetary missions stretched NASA's budget. Recent missions have stayed within budget, but the cost of fiscal discipline may mean staying close to home.
Statement from the AAS on Proposed Elimination of NASA Science Education & Public Outreach Programs
The American Astronomical Society has issued a strongly worded statement against NASA's proposed elimination of its education and public outreach programs, and I agree with it.
Planetary Science Echoes Through the Halls of Congress
The Planetary Society just returned from a big trip to Washington, D.C. to advocate for continued planetary exploration. Here's what happened.
NASA Robs Planetary Science
NASA's leaked operating plan suggests that the agency is raiding money restored to the planetary program this year by Congress.
The White House Science Fair and an Earful for Bolden
I meet the future of science in the United States, and I speak directly to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden about my concerns for Planetary Science funding.
Further Analysis of NASA's 2014 Budget Proposal
Now that groups and individuals have had time to digest the proposed 2014 NASA Planetary Science budget, they are highlighting the impacts of the proposed cuts. We are also getting the first independent reactions to the proposal to bring an asteroid to lunar orbit as a target for human exploration.
House NASA Budget Hearing Live-blog
Live blog of comments and analysis from the House Science Committee's hearing on NASA's 2014 Budget.
Planetary Science Is Fading to Black, Claims New Op-Ed
A powerful new op-ed in SpaceNews traces the inevitable decline of NASA's Planetary Science missions if the current cuts to the program are implemented.
What We're Doing About NASA's Planetary Science Budget Cut
All cylinders are firing here in the Society as we rev up a big response for the White House's NASA budget that proposes another $200 million cut to Planetary Science.