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Planetary Radio • Nov 20, 2024

What does the US election mean for NASA?

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On This Episode

Jack kiraly portrait 2023

Jack Kiraly

Director of Government Relations for The Planetary Society

Casey dreier tps mars

Casey Dreier

Chief of Space Policy for The Planetary Society

Bruce betts portrait hq library

Bruce Betts

Chief Scientist / LightSail Program Manager for The Planetary Society

Sarah al ahmed headshot

Sarah Al-Ahmed

Planetary Radio Host and Producer for The Planetary Society

Presidential elections in the United States don’t just shape the country’s future—they set the course for space exploration. This week, Casey Dreier, the chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, analyzes what the incoming Trump administration could mean for NASA’s funding, human spaceflight, and its Science Mission Directorate. Meanwhile, budget cuts have triggered another round of layoffs at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Jack Kiraly, Planetary Society director of government relations, explains why it happened, and what U.S. residents can do to help. Plus, Bruce Betts is back with What's Up and another fascinating Random Space Fact.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Jet Propulsion Laboratory Aerial view of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) located in the upper Arroyo Seco and San Gabriel Mountains foothills, of Pasadena and Altadena, Southern California.Image: NASA
President Trump Visits Kennedy Space Center
President Trump Visits Kennedy Space Center After the launch of NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2 mission with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley.Image: NASA/Bill Ingalls

NASA's annual budget since its inception, adjusted for inflation using the NASA New Start Inflation Index. The vertical axis displays NASA's total congressional appropriation in billions of dollars. The horizontal axis is fiscal years. Detailed data including outlays, alternate inflation indicies, non-inflation adjusted numbers, and White House budget requests are available to view or to download as an Excel spreadsheet.

Valhalla crater on Callisto
Valhalla crater on Callisto The massive Valhalla crater on Callisto ripples out in a way that suggests a soft layer underneath the surface. The Voyager 1 spacecraft captured this image in 1979.Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech

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