Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition

Latest Episodes:

What does “science as a service” really mean? Oct 09, 2026

Show notes

Jack Kiraly, chief of advocacy for The Planetary Society, and planetary scientist Britney Schmidt join Casey Dreier to examine NASA’s push toward “science as a service,” and why science is so much more than buying data.

The Long Space Age with Alex MacDonald Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

Alex MacDonald, former Chief Economist at NASA and author of "The Long Space Age," joins Casey Dreier to explore more than two centuries of privately funded space exploration in America.

“Science: A New Golden Age” - Reimagining U.S. science policy Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

Casey Dreier is joined by Zach Pirtle, deputy director of the Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes at Arizona State University, and the Planetary Society's Chief of Advocacy Jack Kiraly to dissect the White House's "Science: A New Golden Age" report, which calls for a sweeping reimagining of how the U.S. funds and conducts science.

What's going on with commercial space stations? Jul 03, 2026

Show notes

Clayton Swope, deputy director of the Aerospace Security Project and senior fellow at CSIS, joins the show to break down NASA's rocky path toward a commercial replacement for the International Space Station.

A proposal to stifle American science Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

Casey Dreier is joined by Liz Ginexi, a former Program Officer at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, to break down a 400-page proposed rule change from the U.S. Office of Management and Budget that could fundamentally reshape how the federal government manages scientific grants.

Why humans matter — The philosophy of Artemis II May 01, 2026

Show notes

Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, sits down with Rebecca Lowe, philosophy senior fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, to explore why human presence in space is so different from robotic missions, and why that difference matters.

Return to Launch — Cape Canaveral's unlikely history Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, sits down with Stephen C. Smith, author of Return to Launch and Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex communicator, to explore how a remote Florida peninsula became the heart of U.S. spaceflight.

Is there really a space race between the US and China? Mar 06, 2026

Show notes

Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, speaks with former NASA strategic advisor on China, Patrick Besha, about China’s long-term space strategy and what real competition in space may look like in the decades ahead.

What a NASA Authorization bill actually does Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

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.

Change for the Sake of Disruption at NASA Jan 02, 2026

Show notes

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.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected