Casey Dreier
@caseydreier.bsky.social
Chief of Space Policy at The Planetary Society. Host of Planetary Radio: Space Policy Edition. planetary.org
Data update! Our NASA Planetary Science historical budget dataset now includes all values for the FY 2026 request and final FY 2024 expenditures. Includes annual funding for every NASA planetary mission, helpful programmatic breakdowns, more:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
November 14, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Data update! Our NASA Planetary Science historical budget dataset now includes all values for the FY 2026 request and final FY 2024 expenditures. Includes annual funding for every NASA planetary mission, helpful programmatic breakdowns, more:
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
docs.google.com/spreadsheets...
I'm very excited to announce `usaspending-orm` a new Python library to ease access to data from the USASpending API.
Available now on PyPI and GitHub. Repo link in thread.
Available now on PyPI and GitHub. Repo link in thread.
November 3, 2025 at 2:58 PM
I'm very excited to announce `usaspending-orm` a new Python library to ease access to data from the USASpending API.
Available now on PyPI and GitHub. Repo link in thread.
Available now on PyPI and GitHub. Repo link in thread.
Any new entrant to provide a human lunar landing system for Artemis would have to pull off a successful development effort within 5 years — a feat last accomplished for crewed spacecraft by project Gemini in 1965:
October 24, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Any new entrant to provide a human lunar landing system for Artemis would have to pull off a successful development effort within 5 years — a feat last accomplished for crewed spacecraft by project Gemini in 1965:
Got to talk about our joint efforts to #SaveNASAScience during today’s Day of Action on ABC News:
October 6, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Got to talk about our joint efforts to #SaveNASAScience during today’s Day of Action on ABC News:
The government may be shut down, but that won't stop our Save NASA Science Day of Action. Nearly 300 advocates are joining me here in D.C. on Monday to #SaveNASAScience
More: planetary.org/dayofaction
More: planetary.org/dayofaction
October 4, 2025 at 5:33 PM
The government may be shut down, but that won't stop our Save NASA Science Day of Action. Nearly 300 advocates are joining me here in D.C. on Monday to #SaveNASAScience
More: planetary.org/dayofaction
More: planetary.org/dayofaction
Maxwell Zhu joined me on this month's Space Policy Edition podcast to discuss our recent work exploring the rapid expansion of China's space science program.
Listen here: www.planetary.org/planetary-ra...
Listen here: www.planetary.org/planetary-ra...
October 3, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Maxwell Zhu joined me on this month's Space Policy Edition podcast to discuss our recent work exploring the rapid expansion of China's space science program.
Listen here: www.planetary.org/planetary-ra...
Listen here: www.planetary.org/planetary-ra...
With our new tool, we can see that NASA's MAVEN project — marked for termination next year — has received similar funding levels in 2025 as it did in 2024. A good sign for the project. More: www.planetary.org/mission-spen...
September 24, 2025 at 2:47 PM
With our new tool, we can see that NASA's MAVEN project — marked for termination next year — has received similar funding levels in 2025 as it did in 2024. A good sign for the project. More: www.planetary.org/mission-spen...
Just published the **Mission Spending Tracker**, which analyzes and compares *monthly* expenditures for threatened NASA science missions. A great way to check for premature spending impacts on missions proposed for termination: www.planetary.org/mission-spen...
September 24, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Just published the **Mission Spending Tracker**, which analyzes and compares *monthly* expenditures for threatened NASA science missions. A great way to check for premature spending impacts on missions proposed for termination: www.planetary.org/mission-spen...
[DATA UPDATE]: The rate of new grants at NASA increased in August, but the agency is still on track to award nearly 20% fewer grants in 2025 vs 2024:
September 12, 2025 at 2:11 PM
[DATA UPDATE]: The rate of new grants at NASA increased in August, but the agency is still on track to award nearly 20% fewer grants in 2025 vs 2024:
NASA's Space Science Data Coordinated Archive (NSSDCA) website has been down for at least a week now — has anyone heard anything about why that may be the case?
nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov
nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov
September 2, 2025 at 3:14 PM
NASA's Space Science Data Coordinated Archive (NSSDCA) website has been down for at least a week now — has anyone heard anything about why that may be the case?
nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov
nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov
New analysis: NASA is awarding new grants at a significantly lower rate in 2025 than in prior years:
August 15, 2025 at 5:11 PM
New analysis: NASA is awarding new grants at a significantly lower rate in 2025 than in prior years:
Two NEW partners just joined our Save NASA Science Day of Action in Washington, D.C. this October 5th & 6th! Learn more and register to join us: planetary.org/dayofaction
August 12, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Two NEW partners just joined our Save NASA Science Day of Action in Washington, D.C. this October 5th & 6th! Learn more and register to join us: planetary.org/dayofaction
I had a great time speaking with Bhavya Lal about the need for in-space nuclear power on this month's Space Policy Edition podcast. Available now on Apple, Spotify, or at planetary.org/radio
August 1, 2025 at 7:04 PM
I had a great time speaking with Bhavya Lal about the need for in-space nuclear power on this month's Space Policy Edition podcast. Available now on Apple, Spotify, or at planetary.org/radio
Excited to announce our 2nd Day of Action in Washington, D.C. Oct 5th & 6th. And we're not alone! We're joined by 10 partner organizations to help Save NASA Science.
Learn more & register: planetary.org/dayofaction
Learn more & register: planetary.org/dayofaction
July 30, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Excited to announce our 2nd Day of Action in Washington, D.C. Oct 5th & 6th. And we're not alone! We're joined by 10 partner organizations to help Save NASA Science.
Learn more & register: planetary.org/dayofaction
Learn more & register: planetary.org/dayofaction
The 2026 White House budget directs NASA to send humans to the Moon AND Mars with the smallest civil servant workforce since FY 1960...which began in the summer of 1959. Clearly, the outcome of a "cut first, justify later" approach.
This is not a serious proposal (albeit very destructive).
This is not a serious proposal (albeit very destructive).
June 8, 2025 at 4:44 PM
The 2026 White House budget directs NASA to send humans to the Moon AND Mars with the smallest civil servant workforce since FY 1960...which began in the summer of 1959. Clearly, the outcome of a "cut first, justify later" approach.
This is not a serious proposal (albeit very destructive).
This is not a serious proposal (albeit very destructive).
Don't miss our new NASA Science spending and economic impact resource at dashboards.planetary.org/nasa-science.html — see space science spending in every state and congressional district and custom reports for each region. A unique resource.
June 2, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Don't miss our new NASA Science spending and economic impact resource at dashboards.planetary.org/nasa-science.html — see space science spending in every state and congressional district and custom reports for each region. A unique resource.
Four charts showing the extent of cuts to NASA in the FY26 budget:
- Cuts to every science division
- Smallest science funding since 1984
- 19 active, inflight missions cancelled
- Smallest NASA budget since FY 1961
- Cuts to every science division
- Smallest science funding since 1984
- 19 active, inflight missions cancelled
- Smallest NASA budget since FY 1961
May 31, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Four charts showing the extent of cuts to NASA in the FY26 budget:
- Cuts to every science division
- Smallest science funding since 1984
- 19 active, inflight missions cancelled
- Smallest NASA budget since FY 1961
- Cuts to every science division
- Smallest science funding since 1984
- 19 active, inflight missions cancelled
- Smallest NASA budget since FY 1961
Sociologist Janet Vertesi is my guest on this month's Space Policy Edition, talking about the threats to institutional knowledge at NASA amidst budget cuts and indiscriminate firings.
Available at: www.planetary.org/planetary-ra...
Available at: www.planetary.org/planetary-ra...
May 3, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Sociologist Janet Vertesi is my guest on this month's Space Policy Edition, talking about the threats to institutional knowledge at NASA amidst budget cuts and indiscriminate firings.
Available at: www.planetary.org/planetary-ra...
Available at: www.planetary.org/planetary-ra...
Today, we're launching a dedicated action hub for the crisis threatening NASA science. Find actions, latest news and up-to-date resources at: www.planetary.org/save-nasa-sc... #ProtectNASAScience
May 1, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Today, we're launching a dedicated action hub for the crisis threatening NASA science. Find actions, latest news and up-to-date resources at: www.planetary.org/save-nasa-sc... #ProtectNASAScience
Statement from ExploreMars on the joint letter released today in support of NASA science: www.planetary.org/press-releas...
April 30, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Statement from ExploreMars on the joint letter released today in support of NASA science: www.planetary.org/press-releas...
Statement from Commercial Space Federation on the potential cuts to NASA science: www.planetary.org/press-releas...
April 30, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Statement from Commercial Space Federation on the potential cuts to NASA science: www.planetary.org/press-releas...
Just published a new dashboard for tracking NASA contract cancellations, updated daily: dashboards.planetary.org/cancellation...
April 25, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Just published a new dashboard for tracking NASA contract cancellations, updated daily: dashboards.planetary.org/cancellation...
I rarely do this, but please consider donating to The Planetary Society's advocacy program at planetary.org/takeaction
We are an independent nonprofit. We don't have big industry funds or government grants (a bonus, these days!) All we have are our members and donors to enable our work.
We are an independent nonprofit. We don't have big industry funds or government grants (a bonus, these days!) All we have are our members and donors to enable our work.
April 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM
I rarely do this, but please consider donating to The Planetary Society's advocacy program at planetary.org/takeaction
We are an independent nonprofit. We don't have big industry funds or government grants (a bonus, these days!) All we have are our members and donors to enable our work.
We are an independent nonprofit. We don't have big industry funds or government grants (a bonus, these days!) All we have are our members and donors to enable our work.
Added 24 more NASA contract terminations today, impacting, among others:
* Plant watering services at HQ
* Astrophysics Senior Review
* SpaceX (don't get too excited, only $20k)
Now tracking 117 canceled contracts impacting at least $92 million in obligations:
planet.ly/contractcancellations
* Plant watering services at HQ
* Astrophysics Senior Review
* SpaceX (don't get too excited, only $20k)
Now tracking 117 canceled contracts impacting at least $92 million in obligations:
planet.ly/contractcancellations
April 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Added 24 more NASA contract terminations today, impacting, among others:
* Plant watering services at HQ
* Astrophysics Senior Review
* SpaceX (don't get too excited, only $20k)
Now tracking 117 canceled contracts impacting at least $92 million in obligations:
planet.ly/contractcancellations
* Plant watering services at HQ
* Astrophysics Senior Review
* SpaceX (don't get too excited, only $20k)
Now tracking 117 canceled contracts impacting at least $92 million in obligations:
planet.ly/contractcancellations