Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition
The Planetary Society
The politics, policy, and history behind space exploration.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 5, 2020 • 1h 17min
NASA’s Gamble Pays Off
The safe arrival of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon at the International Space Station is a huge success for NASA and policymakers who gambled years ago on the value of commercial partnerships for the agency.
May 1, 2020 • 1h 11min
Our Moral Obligation to Explore Space
Philosopher James Schwartz shares his thoughts about the ethics of space exploration, commercialization, and settlement.
Apr 3, 2020 • 1h 7min
Our Equinox Space Policy Briefing
Join The Planetary Society’s policy team, including Bill Nye, for highlights of a members-only live briefing that shared our analysis of how the coronavirus pandemic may affect space exploration.
Mar 6, 2020 • 1h 7min
NASA's 2021 Budget Request Brings Billions
NASA’s fiscal year 2021 budget request contains lots of good news along with a few disappointments. How will Congress weigh in?
Feb 7, 2020 • 1h 13min
Is the Moon a Stepping-Stone or a Cornerstone for Mars? (with Laura Seward Forczyk)
Casey and his guest discuss a bill working its way through the US House of Representatives that challenges the Artemis plan adopted by NASA for human exploration of the Moon and Mars.
Jan 10, 2020 • 1h 8min
Houston, We Have a Space Force (with Brian Weeden)
Legislation signed by President Trump in December formally established the 6th branch of the U.S. armed services, the first such expansion in 72 years. What exactly will the new Space Force do?
Dec 6, 2019 • 1h 37min
The Biggest Policy Moments of the Decade (with Marcia Smith)
As the 2010s come to a close, Marcia Smith, the founder of Space Policy Online, rejoins the show to explore the most significant and impactful space policy decisions of the 2010s.
Nov 1, 2019 • 1h 30min
How a Report Can Move Mountains
How can a simple report—just words on a page—lead to creation of a spacecraft? We explore how a 2019 report on the need for a dedicated, space-based telescope to find threatening near-Earth asteroids motivated NASA to pursue that very mission.
Oct 11, 2019 • 57min
Happy Fiscal New Year!
October 1st kicked off federal fiscal year 2020—a day that should also have kicked off a new budget for NASA. But Congress has not funded the space agency yet, instead passing a temporary stopgap measure to keep the government open until November 21st. Brendan Curry, The Planetary Society's Chief of D.C. Operations, joins the show to discuss the latest political developments in Washington, good news for planetary defense, and how the funding delay could spell trouble for the space agency's 2024 lunar goal.
Sep 6, 2019 • 1h 9min
Why Apollo Ended (with John Logsdon)
As NASA struggles to return humans to the Moon by 2024, it's worth asking: why did it stop in the first place? Space historian John Logsdon joins the show to discuss the politics behind the decision to abandon the Moon in 1972. Casey and Mat also discuss the proposal to offer a $2 billion prize for sending humans back to the Moon and establishing a base there, and why that's not good public policy.
