NASA says the MAVEN spacecraft is “very likely” unrecoverable. The Mars orbiter has been on an extended mission over nearly a decade, exploring how Mars loses its atmosphere to space. Contact with MAVEN was lost in December, and the probe no longer appears to be in its planned orbit or rotating as expected. Our update on the mission explains what’s at stake and how NASA has been trying to save the mission. Image credit: NASA / GSFC
Catch up on a curiously alien book club conversation. In this month’s book club event, Mat Kaplan talks “The Little Book of Aliens” with Adam Frank, an author, science communicator, and astrophysicist at the University of Rochester. Topics range from the origin of life to UFOs and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
What did it take to save NASA science? In this week’s Planetary Radio, hear from our very own Jack Kiraly, director of government relations, and Ari Koeppel, AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow and space policy intern, about how the fight over NASA’s 2026 budget was won. After sharing what the victory means for the future of space exploration, they also look ahead to what comes next as the 2027 budget process gets started.
Who is America’s Favorite Teacher? One outstanding teacher will be named through online competitions offered by Colossal, with proceeds benefitting The Planetary Society. Last year’s competition raised nearly $3.2 million in support of our mission. The winner will receive a cash prize, a feature in Reader’s Digest, a trip to Hawaii, and a school assembly with our very own Planetary Society CEO, Bill Nye! Registration is now open, so if you’re a teacher, consider joining the competition!