Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition

The Planetary Society

The politics, policy, and history behind space exploration.

  1. What a NASA Authorization bill actually does

    FEB 6

    What a NASA Authorization bill actually does

    Chief of Space Policy Casey Dreier and Director of Government Relations Jack Kiraly break down what NASA authorization bills actually do and why these laws matter for long-term U.S. space policy, from science missions to human spaceflight and planetary defense.

    1h 1m
  2. Change for the Sake of Disruption at NASA

    JAN 2

    Change for the Sake of Disruption at NASA

    After DOGE cuts, mass staff departures, and a blink-and-you-missed-it pivot to Mars, how much did NASA actually change in 2025? Space Policy Online founder Marcia Smith returns to assess a turbulent year.

    1h 11m
  3. The Moral Case for Space Science

    12/12/2025

    The Moral Case for Space Science

    Why do we explore space? In this Space Policy Edition rerun, Casey Dreier speaks with philosopher Dr. J. S. Johnson-Schwartz about why space science is a moral obligation, beyond economics or prestige.

    1h 9m
  4. Should a (potential) biosignature revive Mars Sample Return?

    11/07/2025

    Should a (potential) biosignature revive Mars Sample Return?

    In 1996, a controversial claim of fossilized life in a Martian meteorite ignited a golden age of Mars exploration. Nearly 30 years later, a potential biosignature detected by the Perseverance rover at Jezero Crater has sparked… no major policy changes. Why? Lou Friedman joins the show to present his view.

    1h 22m
  5. China’s growing space science ambitions

    10/03/2025

    China’s growing space science ambitions

    If the United States is indeed in a space race with China, why are we abandoning space science programs across the Solar System? This question, posed by guest Maxwell Zhu in a recent op-ed co-authored by The Planetary Society’s chief of space policy, reveals the current myopia around human spaceflight and the missing focus on a growing and ambitious new entrant into space science in the 21st century.

    49 min
  6. Does the rise of Elon mean the fall of NASA?

    09/05/2025

    Does the rise of Elon mean the fall of NASA?

    Atlantic writer Franklin Foer joins the show to discuss how NASA enabled the rise of Elon Musk, and, in doing so, sowed the seeds of its own decline.

    1h 1m
  7. Is this the moment for in-space nuclear power?

    08/01/2025

    Is this the moment for in-space nuclear power?

    Dr. Bhavya Lal argues that the 2020s are a decisive decade for in-space nuclear power. Without nuclear, humans may never be more than visitors on Mars or the Moon.

    1h 10m
  8. Are Democrats falling behind on space policy?

    07/04/2025

    Are Democrats falling behind on space policy?

    Our guest, Mary Guenther, argues that the Democratic Party is ceding leadership in space policy, and how linking space to jobs, supply chains, and climate could help refocus the party’s relationship with the Cosmos.

    1 hr
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The politics, policy, and history behind space exploration.

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