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Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Day of Action 2026: Rejoining the fight to save NASA science

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

The Planetary Society

Science, Technology

4.81.4K Ratings

🗓️ 6 May 2026

⏱️ 60 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The fight to save NASA science is back. Planetary Radio host Sarah Al-Ahmed takes you to Washington, D.C., for the 2026 Day of Action, where Planetary Society members, scientists, and advocates hit Capitol Hill to oppose a proposed 46% cut to NASA's science budget.

Transcript

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0:00.0

It's time to save NASA science again.

0:05.0

We'll take you inside the Planetary Society's Day of Action this week on Planetary Radio.

0:16.0

I'm Sarah Al Ahmed of the Planetary Society, with more of the human adventure across our solar

0:21.7

system and beyond. Every year, Planetary Society members from the United States travel to Washington,

0:28.4

D.C. to make the case for funding the scientific exploration of space in the U.S. Congress.

0:34.3

This week we hear from Jen Vaughn, CEO of the Planetary Society on her first day of action in her new role.

0:40.7

Then we hear from David Johnson, a charter member of the Planetary Society making his very first trip to Capitol Hill after 46 years of membership.

0:49.9

We'll meet Gabe Segarra, a healthcare researcher and human factors scientist.

0:54.8

Then Michael Wong, planetary scientist and astrobiologist at Carnegie Science.

1:00.1

Later at the after-party, I caught up with Jason Serendolo and Alex Swayla.

1:04.8

And we'll close out with Philip Shane, an eight-year Day of Action veteran who's been watching

1:09.7

this movement grow from a handful of people

1:11.7

to one of the largest advocacy events in our organization's history.

1:16.7

Then Bruce Betts, our chief scientist, joins us for What's Up,

1:19.8

where we'll talk about the specific missions that we're fighting to save.

1:23.7

If you love planetary radio and want to stay informed about the latest space discoveries,

1:28.4

make sure you hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcasting platform.

1:32.0

By subscribing, you'll never miss an episode filled with new and all-inspiring ways to know the cosmos and our place within it.

1:40.4

On April 20, 26, more than 130 space advocates from 34 U.S. states and the District of Columbia

1:48.8

came together in the U.S. Capitol for the Planetary Society's Day of Action.

1:53.9

It's our annual event where members travel to Washington, D.C., on their own time and at their own expense,

1:59.4

to walk the halls of the U.S. Congress and champion

...

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