Several weeks ago, I told you a bit about the challenge NASA faces in staying focused on its goals when the overall mission can change every four to eight years, from administration to administration. One nonprofit group that seeks to provide some continuity in US space policy through its advocacy efforts is the Planetary Society. Part of their mission is to lobby Congress and the successive administrations to ensure the support of continued space exploration and scientific research.
The Society held a town hall meeting in Atlanta, GA on May 7 to discuss the future of US space policy and guide the Society's future efforts. The Vice President of the Planetary Society, Bill Nye "the Science Guy," was in town for the event, and he talked to me about keeping the final frontier on the minds of our elected officials.
Watch the video!
Although $16 billion may sound like a lot, NASA's budget is only about 0.58% of federal spending. The space agency receives little more than 1/100th of the funds allocated to social programs, but the payoff, as the Society argues, is a better understanding of our planet, its environment, and the technologies that improve our terrestrial lives.