Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition

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Take a deep dive into the politics and policy of space exploration. Casey Dreier, The Planetary Society's Chief Advocate and Senior Adviser, and Mat Kaplan, host of Planetary Radio, engage world experts in space policy and history to share the behind-the-scenes stories of how space exploration actua…

The Planetary Society


    • May 2, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 10m AVG DURATION
    • 159 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition

    How NASA remembers—and forgets

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2025 78:43


    No one person knows how to build a spaceship. What happens to NASA's collective knowledge when thousands of employees lose their jobs?

    Lies, damned lies, and space data

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 69:34


    The space sector is data-rich but insight-poor. Jack Kuhr of Payload talks about how he turns raw numbers into real narratives.

    Locke, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness (in space)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 77:33


    Can classical liberalism provide fresh insights to guide humanity's activities in space? Philosopher Rebecca Lowe explains how it can.

    Mars Sample Return, but at what (fixed) price?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 80:21


    Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck outlines a $4B fixed-price plan for Mars Sample Return — and reveals new Venus mission details — before VP Richard French explains how a single, integrated team cuts costs and ensures success.

    The Challenges of Change at NASA

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2025 68:17


    Marcia Smith, founder of Space Policy Online, joins the show to discuss the motivations and risks of pursuing change at NASA - and how much change can ultimately happen with Congress holding the purse strings.

    The Myth of Presidential Leadership

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 47:04


    We revisit a classic book on the limits of presidential power in setting the nation's space agenda and explore how the increasingly powerful executive branch might be rewriting those expectations.

    NASA at a Crossroads

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 56:12


    Norm Augustine, the distinguished aerospace industry veteran behind numerous influential studies, joins the show to discuss NASA at a Crossroads, the new report that raises alarm bells for NASA's workforce, infrastructure, and technology capabilities.

    The space policies of a Harris Administration

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2024 58:25


    Space expert Lori Garver joins the show to explore Kamala Harris' space policy priorities, the major issues facing NASA in the next four years, and Garver's thoughts on the evolution of Elon Musk and NASA's increasing reliance on the commercial space industry.

    The Space Policy of a Second Trump Administration

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 59:04


    Dr. Greg Autry, who served on Trump's NASA transition team in 2016 and was nominated for the position of NASA CFO in 2020, joins the show to discuss the space policy issues facing a potential second Trump administration in 2025.

    Do we need a philosophy of space exploration?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2024 68:21


    Policy expert G. Ryan Faith argues for importance of communal engagement with our values and goals in space exploration. While easy answers may elude us, a careful and considered approach to this effort can help avoid common pitfalls and dead ends and ensure that future generations continue to explore space.

    NASA and the American South

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2024 58:26


    Every major NASA center built after the agency's inception is located in the American South. Why? Dr. Brian Odom, NASA's chief historian, joins the show to discuss the cultural, political, and historical implications of NASA's expansion into the South.

    Is Human Spaceflight a Religion?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 69:58


    Holy texts and salvation ideology. Saints and martyrs. True believers and apostates. This isn't a religion — this is human spaceflight, argues Roger Launius, the former Chief Historian of NASA.

    The power of the lunar sublime

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2024 75:43


    Should policymakers spend more time looking - really looking - at the Moon? Chris Cokinos thinks so. He's the author of a new book, Still As Bright, which explores the evolving role of the Moon in our culture, our history, and our dreams of spaceflight.

    Real and Acceptable Reasons for Space Exploration

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2024 53:45


    Former NASA Administrator Mike Griffin discusses his claim that there is a tension between the so-called Real reasons that motivate spaceflight and the prosaic, Acceptable reasons used to justify space exploration within the public sphere.

    Space Policy Edition: The ahistorical era of commercial lunar exploration

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2024 65:45


    Science historian Dr. Matt Shindell joins the show to discuss the unique era of commercial lunar exploration, and how planetary exploration has evolved and can continue to evolve on and around the Moon.

    Space Policy Edition: Space isn't black — it's grey

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2024 80:48


    Space policy expert Laura Delgado López joins the show to break down the new paper, “Clearing the Fog: The Grey Zones of Space Governance” by Jessica West and Jordan Miller.

    Space Policy Edition: India's growing space ambitions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2024 63:49


    UK-based space writer Gurbir Singh, author of the book The Indian Space Programme: India's Incredible Journey from the Third World towards the First, joins the show to help us understand India's growing ambitions and capabilities in space.

    Space Policy Edition: Was the Space Shuttle a policy failure?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2023 59:28


    Though the Space Shuttle program lasted 30 years and built the ISS, it fell short of NASA's goals for cost, reusability, and reliability. Can a program be both a worldly success and a policy failure? In this Space Policy Edition, we dissect a classic space policy paper and debate its relevance today.

    Space Policy Edition: What went wrong with Mars Sample Return

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2023 88:33


    NASA's Mars Sample Return mission is both a top priority and seriously troubled. Independent review board chair Orlando Figueroa joins us to talk about the challenges and what must be done.

    Space Policy Edition: Why lunar exploration must be of enduring national interest

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2023 73:58


    Scott Pace, the prior executive secretary of the National Space Council, discusses why Artemis is of strategic value to U.S. national interests — and why the Moon is unique as a destination to drive global space exploration.

    Space Policy Edition: What's Going on with: Congress, MSR, and ?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2023


    We check in on the congressional budget process for NASA, Mars Sample Return's spiraling cost growth, and the impending end of the regulatory holiday for human commercial space launch companies.

    Space Policy Edition: The policy implications of active SETI

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2023 77:26


    Would meeting an extraterrestrial civilization be good or bad for humanity? Astronomer Dr. Jacob Haqq Misra argues that knowing the outcome in advance is fundamentally impossible.

    Space Policy Edition: SpaceX's Starship vs. the environment, with Eric Roesch

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2023 80:18


    Eric Roesch, an environmental policy expert, joins Planetary Radio to discuss SpaceX's Starship, environmental regulations' role in commercial space travel, and responsible space exploration.

    Space Policy Edition: The motives behind NASA's billions — Jean Toal Eisen on how Congress funds the final frontier

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2023 57:50


    Jean Toal Eisen, former senior staff on the Senate Appropriations Committee, joins the show to reveal the decision-making process, priorities, and motivations of those who control the U.S. space program's funding.

    Space Policy Edition: The Tricky Ethics of Space Settlement

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2023 71:28


    Dr. Erika Nesvold, astrophysicist and author of the new book Off-Earth: Ethical Questions and Quandaries for Living in Outer Space explores the ethical challenges facing our species as it dips its toe into living beyond our home planet.

    Space Policy Edition: The White House's Matt Daniels on the U.S.'s New Cislunar Strategy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2023 77:10


    Dr. Matt Daniels of the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy joins the show to discuss the White House's new cislunar space strategy, its ambitions, and implications for the future of lunar exploration and development.

    Space Policy Edition: JPL Director wants "every brain" to have the chance to work in space exploration

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2023 63:22


    Jet Propulsion Laboratory Director Laurie Leshin wants to give every brain in the country the opportunity to work in space exploration.

    Space Policy Edition: NASA's Economic Impact with Alex MacDonald and Joshua Drucker

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2022 73:38


    What is NASA's return on investment? NASA chief economist Alex MacDonald and University of Illinois Chicago professor Joshua Drucker provide revealing answers from a new economic impact report.

    Space Policy Edition: What the Congressional Midterms Mean for Space Science

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2022 58:16


    Bethany Johns of the American Astronomical Society talks with Planetary Society Chief Advocate Casey Dreier about how changes in Washington after the midterm elections may affect support for science.

    Space Policy Edition Bonus: Q&A with Casey Dreier and Bill Nye

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2022 98:56


    A special Space Policy Edition featuring a recent policy and advocacy webcast that gave Planetary Society members the opportunity to query Chief Advocate Casey Dreier and Society CEO Bill Nye.

    Space Policy Edition: The Geopolitics of a Successful SETI Detection

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2022 62:43


    How will nations react if (when?) humanity detects the presence of an alien intelligence or civilization? That's the topic Planetary Society Chief Advocate Casey Dreier takes up with his guest, astrophysicist Jason Wright.

    Space Policy Edition: Mike Gold on Crafting the Artemis Accords

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2022 63:40


    Former NASA Associate Administrator Mike Gold shepherded the Artemis Accords, a set of bilateral agreements for collaboration in human space exploration. Casey Dreier spoke with him in Florida as we awaited the launch of Artemis 1.

    Space Policy Edition: Lori Garver on Bringing Change to NASA

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2022 73:13


    Former NASA deputy administrator Lori Garver returns for a deep conversation with Casey Dreier about her fight to turn the agency toward commercial partnerships and away from the expensive Constellation program.

    Space Policy Edition: Pathfinder and the Birth of the Discovery Program

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2022 75:35


    Space exploration historian Michael Neufeld traces the fascinating history of one of NASA's most successful programs of planetary exploration.

    Space Policy Edition: Inside the Planetary Science Decadal Survey Process with Bethany Ehlmann

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2022 54:11


    Professor Bethany Ehlmann served on the steering committee for the new planetary science and astrobiology decadal survey that will steer future exploration of the solar system.

    Space Policy Edition: How Russia's Invasion of Ukraine Has Changed Space, with Mariel Borowitz

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2022 71:47


    International space policy and sustainability expert Mariel Borowitz explores with Casey Dreier how the war in Ukraine reaches beyond Earth in ways that are chilling and surprising.

    Space Policy Edition: NASA's 2023 Budget Request

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2022 65:52


    A healthy $26 billion has been proposed for NASA next year, but there are at least a couple of troubling factors we'll discuss as Congress begins its review.

    Space Policy Edition: Why are outer planets missions so expensive?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2022 87:36


    Casey talks with experts about the 50th anniversary of the Pioneer 10 launch toward Jupiter and beyond, and why most outer planets missions since then have been so costly.

    Space Policy Edition: JWST and the politics of mega-science (with Robert Smith)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2022 80:44


    Science historian Robert Smith describes how NASA's new flagship space observatory came to be.

    Space Policy Edition: What We're Watching in 2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2022 63:52


    Planetary Society chief of D.C. operations Brendan Curry returns for a look ahead at what to expect in 2022.

    Space Policy Edition: Astronomy goes big, with Heidi Hammel

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2021 77:48


    Veteran astronomer Heidi Hammel discusses how the new astrophysics decadal survey lays the groundwork for decades of exciting science.

    Space Policy Edition: We're entering a new era of planetary defense (with Lindley Johnson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2021 71:36


    The head of NASA's planetary defense program discusses how the DART mission represents a new era for defending our planet from dangerous asteroids.

    Space Policy Edition: NASA's Congressional Logjam

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 57:42


    Brendan Curry, The Planetary Society's chief of Washington operations, helps us untangle the fast-changing and complex machinations underway in the US capitol. What does it mean for NASA?

    Space Policy Edition: The cultural rituals of space advocacy, with Linda Billings

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2021


    Space outreach expert and social scientist Linda Billings talks with host Casey Dreier about the language space advocates use to share their message.

    Space Policy Edition: Mars via the Nuclear Option

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2021 70:29


    NASA's Bhavya Lal returns to explain the challenges and big advantages of nuclear propulsion in space.

    Space Policy Edition: The Pentagon's UFO Report, Featuring Sarah Scoles

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2021 78:10


    The Pentagon has released its assessment of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. Casey Dreier and science journalist Sarah Scoles talk about what's behind the renewed interest in UFOs and Sarah's book, They Are Already Here.

    Space Policy Edition: NASA's 2022 Budget Request Says "Yes"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2021 50:33


    The White House's proposed 2022 NASA budget is almost entirely great news, as is the announcement that two complementary orbiters will explore Venus.

    Space Policy Edition: How Starship at the Moon Brings NASA Closer to Mars

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2021 53:32


    NASA chose SpaceX's Starship as the sole winner of its human lunar lander development contract in a move that may also take us closer to Mars.

    Space Policy Edition: Biden Names His NASA Administrator

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2021 58:40


    It looks like former senator Bill Nelson will be NASA’s next administrator. Casey Dreier and Mat Kaplan talk about his nomination and other developments in Washington D.C., including The Planetary Society’s very successful Day of Action.

    Space Policy Edition: SpaceX's Early, Desperate Days (with Eric Berger)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2021 61:16


    Elon Musk’s SpaceX nearly failed 15 years ago as it struggled to launch its first rocket. Eric Berger has written about this challenging early era and how it helped create today’s successful, innovative company.

    Space Policy Edition: The Big Picture on U.S. Science Funding

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2021 78:30


    Matt Hourihan of the American Association for the Advancement of Science joins Casey Dreier for a deep dive into the U.S. government’s funding of science research and development.

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