Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition

Can classical liberalism provide fresh insights to guide humanity’s activities in space? Philosopher Rebecca Lowe explains how it can.

Peter Beck, CEO of Rocket Lab, is passionate about interplanetary missions and unveils a $4B fixed-price plan for Mars Sample Return, revealing exciting new details about a Venus mission too. Richard French, Director of Business Development, discusses how an integrated team can slash costs while enhancing mission success. They dive into innovative retrieval systems and the intricate balance between commercial ventures and government projects, emphasizing the need for collaboration and efficient management to navigate the future of interplanetary exploration.

Marcia Smith, founder of Space Policy Online, joins the show to discuss the motivations and risks of pursuing change at NASA - and how much change can ultimately happen with Congress holding the purse strings.

We revisit a classic book on the limits of presidential power in setting the nation’s space agenda and explore how the increasingly powerful executive branch might be rewriting those expectations.

Norm Augustine, the distinguished aerospace industry veteran behind numerous influential studies, joins the show to discuss NASA at a Crossroads, the new report that raises alarm bells for NASA’s workforce, infrastructure, and technology capabilities.

Lori Garver, former Deputy Administrator of NASA and advocate for commercial space partnerships, dives into Kamala Harris' vision for space policy. She discusses the challenges NASA faces, including budget cuts and the rise of private companies like SpaceX. Garver emphasizes the importance of effective leadership in NASA and the need for a strategic pivot towards realistic goals. The conversation also touches on global competition and the significance of maintaining U.S. objectives in space amid evolving political landscapes.

Dr. Greg Autry, who served on Trump’s NASA transition team in 2016 and was nominated for the position of NASA CFO in 2020, joins the show to discuss the space policy issues facing a potential second Trump administration in 2025.

Policy expert G. Ryan Faith argues for importance of communal engagement with our values and goals in space exploration. While easy answers may elude us, a careful and considered approach to this effort can help avoid common pitfalls and dead ends and ensure that future generations continue to explore space.

Every major NASA center built after the agency’s inception is located in the American South. Why? Dr. Brian Odom, NASA’s chief historian, joins the show to discuss the cultural, political, and historical implications of NASA’s expansion into the South.

Holy texts and salvation ideology. Saints and martyrs. True believers and apostates. This isn’t a religion — this is human spaceflight, argues Roger Launius, the former Chief Historian of NASA.