Why do we explore space, and why does science matter in the first place?

In this Space Policy Edition rerun, Planetary Society Chief of Space Policy Casey Dreier revisits a deeply influential 2020 conversation with philosopher and ethicist J. S. Johnson-Schwartz, author of The Value of Science and Space Exploration. As debates over NASA’s budget and the future of space science continue to resurface, this conversation remains strikingly relevant.

Dr. Johnson Schwartz makes a compelling philosophical case that science itself is not merely useful or beneficial, but a moral obligation. Beyond economic returns, technological spinoffs, or national prestige, the pursuit of knowledge has intrinsic value, and public space agencies play a critical role in representing that shared human interest.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/the-moral-case-for-space

Why do we explore space, and why does science matter in the first place?
In this Space Policy Edition rerun, Planetary Society Chief of Space Policy Casey Dreier revisits a deeply influential 2020 conversation with philosopher and ethicist J. S. Johnson-Schwartz, author of The Value of Science and Space Exploration. As debates over NASA&rsquo;s budget and the future of space science continue to resurface, this conversation remains strikingly relevant.
Dr. Johnson Schwartz makes a compelling philosophical case that science itself is not merely useful or beneficial, but a moral obligation. Beyond economic returns, technological spinoffs, or national prestige, the pursuit of knowledge has intrinsic value, and public space agencies play a critical role in representing that shared human interest.
Discover more at: <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/the-moral-case-for-space">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/the-moral-case-for-space</a>

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our Solar System and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts who are taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye the Science Guy and Bruce Betts as they dive deep into space science and exploration. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway where the future of the US space program hangs in the balance. Visit planetary.org/radio for an episode guide and much more.

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our Solar System and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts who are taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye the Science Guy and Bruce Betts as they dive deep into space science and exploration. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway where the future of the US space program hangs in the balance. Visit planetary.org/radio for an episode guide and much more.

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our solar system and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye, the Science Guy, and Bruce Betts, chief scientist for The Planetary Society, as they dive deep into the latest space news. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway with Casey Dreier and Jack Kiraly to discuss the politics of space exploration in the US and advocacy actions you can take to support the missions that matter. Visit planetary.org/radio for the space trivia contest, an episode guide, and much more.

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our solar system and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye, the Science Guy, and Bruce Betts, chief scientist for The Planetary Society, as they dive deep into the latest space news. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway with Casey Dreier and Jack Kiraly to discuss the politics of space exploration in the US and advocacy actions you can take to support the missions that matter. Visit planetary.org/radio for the space trivia contest, an episode guide, and much more.

Why do we explore space? In this Space Policy Edition rerun, Casey Dreier speaks with philosopher Dr. J. S. Johnson-Schwartz about why space science is a moral obligation, beyond economics or prestige.

Space Policy Edition: The Moral Case for Space Science

Artemis II is about more than getting four humans to the Moon and back. It's an opportunity to gather data on human health in deep space that we haven’t had in over 50 years.

This week, we’re joined by Steve Platts, chief scientist of NASA's Human Research Program, who walks us through the suite of human health experiments flying aboard Artemis II, from the ARCHER wearable sensors tracking crew health and team dynamics, to dry saliva swabs measuring stress hormones. Then Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, helps us make sense of NASA's Ignition Day, a major press event held on March 24 in which the agency unveiled sweeping changes to its lunar exploration plans and beyond.

And we close with Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, in our weekly What's Up, where we explore one of the stranger phenomena in human spaceflight, the flashes of light astronauts sometimes see when cosmic rays pass through their eyes.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-astronaut-health-experiments-artemis-ii

Artemis II is about more than getting four humans to the Moon and back. It's an opportunity to gather data on human health in deep space that we haven&rsquo;t had in over 50 years.
This week, we&rsquo;re joined by Steve Platts, chief scientist of NASA's Human Research Program, who walks us through the suite of human health experiments flying aboard Artemis II, from the ARCHER wearable sensors tracking crew health and team dynamics, to dry saliva swabs measuring stress hormones. Then Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, helps us make sense of NASA's Ignition Day, a major press event held on March 24 in which the agency unveiled sweeping changes to its lunar exploration plans and beyond.
And we close with Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, in our weekly What's Up, where we explore one of the stranger phenomena in human spaceflight, the flashes of light astronauts sometimes see when cosmic rays pass through their eyes.
Discover more at: <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-astronaut-health-experiments-artemis-ii">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-astronaut-health-experiments-artemis-ii</a>

Steve Platts, chief scientist of NASA’s Human Research Program, walks us through the health experiments aboard Artemis II, followed by Planetary Society Chief of Space Policy Casey Dreier on NASA's Ignition Day announcements.

The astronaut health experiments of Artemis II

Join us for an awe-inspiring conversation with astrobiologist and astronomer Caleb Scharf as he eloquently makes the case for "dispersal," the nearly inevitable advance of life and humanity across our solar neighborhood.  From the book: "The idea of Dispersal is one where the sheer scale and scope of life’s future extension into the solar system profoundly changes things: not because of some new (and unlikely) cultural enlightenment from within but because of what the enormous expanse of space will do to dilute and change our species and all others.” Adam Frank says of the book, “If we can make it through the many crises of the next century, then the Solar System and the stars beyond await us. In The Giant Leap, Caleb Scharf demonstrates how becoming a true space-faring species is more than just humanity’s future.”

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/book-club-caleb-scharf

Join us for an awe-inspiring conversation with astrobiologist and astronomer Caleb Scharf as he eloquently makes the case for "dispersal," the nearly inevitable advance of life and humanity across our solar neighborhood.&nbsp; From the book: "The idea of Dispersal is one where the sheer scale and scope of life&rsquo;s future extension into the solar system profoundly changes things: not because of some new (and unlikely) cultural enlightenment from within but because of what the enormous expanse of space will do to dilute and change our species and all others.&rdquo; Adam Frank says of the book, &ldquo;If we can make it through the many crises of the next century, then the Solar System and the stars beyond await us. In The Giant Leap, Caleb Scharf demonstrates how becoming a true space-faring species is more than just humanity&rsquo;s future.&rdquo;
Discover more at: <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/book-club-caleb-scharf">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/book-club-caleb-scharf</a>

Astrobiologist Caleb Scharf eloquently explores the future of humanity and what we will become when we live beyond Earth.  

Book Club Edition: The Giant Leap: Why Space is the Next Frontier in the Evolution of Life

Humanity is going back to the Moon, and Europe is already playing a critical role in making it happen. This week, Planetary Radio brings you voices straight from the 18th European Space Conference in Brussels, Belgium, where more than 2,000 of the world’s top space leaders gathered to shape the future of European space exploration.

We begin with conference co-organizer Tomas Dimitrov of Logos and Business Bridge Europe, who sets the stage for the conversations ahead. From there, we hear from European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher, French Minister Delegate for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad, and Germany’s Federal Space Minister Dorothee Bär.

We also take you inside the Moonlight Initiative panel, bringing you the full conversation as scientists and engineers from ESA, NASA, and industry lay out their vision for building GPS and communications infrastructure around the Moon, and wrestle with what it will really take to support a permanent human presence there.

Then, Planetary Society Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins us for What’s Up to tackle one of the most fascinating and unexpected challenges of lunar exploration: what time is it on the Moon?

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-european-space-conference 

Humanity is going back to the Moon, and Europe is already playing a critical role in making it happen. This week, Planetary Radio brings you voices straight from the 18th European Space Conference in Brussels, Belgium, where more than 2,000 of the world&rsquo;s top space leaders gathered to shape the future of European space exploration.
We begin with conference co-organizer Tomas Dimitrov of Logos and Business Bridge Europe, who sets the stage for the conversations ahead. From there, we hear from European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher, French Minister Delegate for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad, and Germany&rsquo;s Federal Space Minister Dorothee B&auml;r.
We also take you inside the Moonlight Initiative panel, bringing you the full conversation as scientists and engineers from ESA, NASA, and industry lay out their vision for building GPS and communications infrastructure around the Moon, and wrestle with what it will really take to support a permanent human presence there.
Then, Planetary Society Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins us for What&rsquo;s Up to tackle one of the most fascinating and unexpected challenges of lunar exploration: what time is it on the Moon?
Discover more at: <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-european-space-conference">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-european-space-conference</a>&nbsp;

As humanity heads back to the Moon, Europe is stepping up. We bring you voices from the European Space Conference and take you inside the Moonlight Initiative panel building the Moon’s future.

Space Policy Edition: The Moral Case for Space Science

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