StarTalk Radio Bill Nye Takeover
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Oct 28, 2025 Joining Bill Nye is Casey Dreier, Chief of Space Policy at The Planetary Society, who provides insights into NASA's funding challenges. They discuss the proposed budget cuts that threaten NASA’s scientific missions, particularly in Earth observation and astrophysics. Casey emphasizes the crucial role of public funding for space exploration amidst political pressures and the rise of commercial space. They also explore the implications of Mars missions, innovative technologies arising from ambitious projects, and the cultural importance of investing in science.
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Largest NASA Science Cut In History
- NASA faces a proposed 25% overall cut with half of that in science, the largest contraction in its history.
- That reduction exceeds the post-Apollo ramp-down and threatens core missions like telescopes and rovers.
Earth Science At Grave Risk
- The White House proposal would slash Earth science funding by over half, undermining climate and environmental monitoring.
- Losing long-term Earth datasets weakens our ability to detect climate trends and inform policy.
Fund People As Well As Missions
- Support mission science by funding both spacecraft and the scientists who analyze returned data and observations.
- Remember that building a mission without funding science staff renders discoveries useless.