"Zoom out: The gathering in DC stems from the Trump administration's plan to gut funding, while a government shutdown has already furloughed 85% of NASA staff. The White House has even floated mass firings during the shutdown, putting long-term missions and jobs at risk. Meanwhile, China is accelerating: planning a Mars Sample Return by 2028, a major Jupiter mission, a Venus atmosphere probe, and an asteroid defense swarm."
"Nye isn't new to stepping in a political battle; he took over as CEO of The Planetary Society in 2010, turning his public science credibility into policy muscle. Under his tenure, the society has led high-visibility advocacy campaigns that helped block or reverse cuts to NASA's planetary science budget - including restoring tens of millions in funding in 2014. Though it doesn't run missions like Europa Clipper or Mars Sample Return, the Society has become a central voice pushing Congress to protect long-term space science."
The gathering in DC was prompted by plans to gut NASA funding and a government shutdown that has furloughed 85% of NASA staff. The White House explored mass firings during the shutdown, risking long-term missions and jobs. China is accelerating planetary exploration with plans for a Mars Sample Return by 2028, a major Jupiter mission, a Venus atmosphere probe, and an asteroid defense swarm. Bill Nye has led The Planetary Society since 2010 and guided advocacy campaigns that helped restore tens of millions to planetary science funding in 2014. NASA generated $75 billion and supported 300,000 U.S. jobs in 2023, and critics warn prematurely ending missions could waste $12 billion in taxpayer investments.
Read at Axios
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