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THE SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 VOLUME 40, NUMBER 3 planetary.org

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS A SOCIETY RETROSPECTIVE

THE ADVENTURE OF THE C AN INSPIRING YOUNG EXPLORER SPACE ON

NASA/BILL INGALLS

Tried-and-True Workhorse Russian Rocket Continues to Deliver

MOST OF TODAY’S rockets look a lot different Jessica Meir, and the United Arab Emirates’ from the ones in use when Hazzaa Ali Almansoori to the International was founded in 1980. One notable exception is Space Station on 25 September 2019. The the venerable Russian , which has been launch pad, located in Baikonur, , operating since 1967. Although the launcher sits on the same spot where Yuri Gagarin has received various upgrades over time, there blasted off in 1961 to become the first human in is little to visually distinguish a modern Soyuz space, and —Earth’s first artificial sat- from its predecessors. ellite—was launched. Cold War-era structures Here, a train hauls the Soyuz rocket that loom large over the scene along with rusting launched Russia’s Oleg Skripochka, NASA’s rubble near the train tracks.

2 THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 SNAPSHOTS FROM SPACE Contents SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020

13 Celebrating 40 Years The remarkable achievements our members have made over the past 4 decades, alongside other space milestones and events. 13

NASA/ESA/P. KENNETH SEIDELMANN, KATHY RAGES, AND AMY SIMON/OPAL/JUDY SCHMIDT

FORTY YEARS is a lot of time here on Earth, but on Uranus, not so much. The ice giant takes 84 Earth years to orbit the Sun, so over the entire course of The Planetary Society’s existence, not even half a Uranian year has passed. Uranus is famously tipped on its side relative to the other planets, but just like Earth, it has seasons, as shown in these 3 images taken by the DEPARTMENTS in 1995, 2007, and 2019. 2 Space on Earth In the left image from 1995, Uranus’ south pole is at center-left, and the north pole is A toast to the longevity hidden. The 2007 image was taken during equinox, when the ’s rings sat edge-on to of the Soyuz. Earth, appearing nearly invisible. In the 2019 image at right, the north pole is in view, while the south pole is hidden. 3 Snapshots From Space Annual images of the outer planets by Hubble help scientists understand planetary atmo- An outer planet is having a long year. spheres. These pictures were processed, colorized, and oriented to look consistent by Judy Schmidt, an amateur astronomer who specializes in archival Hubble image processing. 4 Your Place in Space reflects on Sagan’s opening chapter. SEE MORE AMATEUR-PROCESSED SPACE IMAGES PLANETARY.ORG/AMATEUR SEE MORE EVERY DAY! PLANETARY.ORG/ARTICLES 6 Your Impact Planetary Society members fuel the search for Earth-like and help chart the future of exploration. ON THE COVER: The first issue of The Planetary Report was published in December 1980. For that cover image, our cofounders chose the last picture from ’s approach to Saturn in which the entire planet and can be seen in a single frame. For our 40th anniversary issue, Björn Jónsson reprocessed 8 Get Involved the same Voyager data using modern techniques, revealing stunning new details. Learn how to make your own space Credit: NASA/JPL/Björn Jónsson C The Planetary Report (ISSN 0736-3680) is published quarterly at the editorial offices of The Planetary Society, 60 South images with real data. Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101-2016, 626-793-5100. It is available to members of The Planetary Society. Annual dues are $50 (U.S. dollars) for members in the United States as well as in Canada and other countries. Printed in USA. Third-class postage at Pasadena, California and at an additional mailing 10 What’s Up? office. Canada Post Agreement Number 87424. C Viewpoints expressed Get ready for a fabulous in articles and editorials are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent positions of The Planetary Society, its officers, or its advisers. ©2020 shower. by The Planetary Society. All Rights Reserved. The Planetary Society and The Planetary Report: Registered Trademarks ® The Planetary Society. Planetfest™ The Planetary Society. 10 Where We Are US: The Planetary Society, 60 South Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91101-2016; General calls: 626-793-5100; Email: [email protected]; Our quarterly roundup of the robots Internet: planetary.org; Editors DANIELLE GUNN, JASON DAVIS, KATE exploring beyond Earth orbit. HOWELLS; Creative Director ANDREW PAULY; Art Director LOREN A. ROBERTS for HEARKEN CREATIVE; Copy Editor NICOLE YUGOVICH; Technical Editor JAMES D. BURKE; Science Editor BRUCE BETTS 12 Why I Explore Inspiring words by 10-year- old member Heidi Jacobs. YOUR PLACE IN SPACE BILL NYE is chief executive officer of The Planetary Society.

BILL NYE Chief Executive Officer

JENNIFER VAUGHN Chief Operating Officer Our Past Informs Our Future COFOUNDERS Looking Back at Carl Sagan’s Founding Essay From December 1980 1934–1996

BRUCE MURRAY 1931–2013

LOUIS D. FRIEDMAN Executive Director Emeritus YOU AND I have come a long way since Carl project. It requires decades of funding, and year BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman of the Board DANIEL T. GERACI Sagan wrote his compelling essay “The Adven- after year, as governments set their nation’s Managing Partner & Director, Cygnus Investment Partners, Inc. ture of the Planets” back in the 20th century budgets through economic ups and downs,

President (see facing page). legislators are often tempted to cut costs and JAMES BELL Professor, School of Earth Just as he suggested, the very existence of cancel programs that may not seem to have and , The Planetary Society, today the world’s largest immediate payoffs or obvious benefits for their Vice President independent space organization, demonstrates constituents. Meanwhile, these distant worlds Executive Vice President, Association of Universities for that citizens of Earth consider the exploration cry out for exploration and discovery and speak Research in of planets and other worlds to be a wonderful to us about our own planet. The more we learn Secretary C. WALLACE HOOSER Associate Professor of Radiology, and worthy use of our human abilities. about planetary worlds of all kinds, the more University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Professor Sagan pointed out that we would we will understand our Earth and how we can Treasurer one day know a great deal more about the ensure a better future for species everywhere, LON LEVIN President and CEO, than we did back when he crafted especially our own. GEOshare LLC BETHANY EHLMANN those words 40 years ago—as long as we stayed It is as important as ever to speak up as a Professor, California Institute of Technology; Research Scientist, the course. space advocate. The Planetary Society and our Jet Propulsion Laboratory JOHN LOGSDON He and his cofounders Bruce Murray and members around the world are here to educate Professor Emeritus, Institute, The George created this organization to legislators about the value of exploration. We Washington University petition governments and space agencies, advo- are here to make it known that people—voters, ROBERT PICARDO Actor cating for missions to the planets in our solar taxpayers, kids (the explorers of tomorrow)— BRITNEY SCHMIDT Assistant Professor, system and for instruments to explore objects want their governments to keep funding space. School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, way out there beyond our Sun. We are here to grow a global community of sup- Georgia Institute of Technology BIJAL “BEE” THAKORE Thanks to you, we’ve stayed the course. porters who want ambitious exploration that Regional Coordinator for Asia Pacific, Space Generation Advisory Council It’s because of the extraordinary feats of leads to amazing discoveries and understanding. FILLMORE WOOD exploration that our species has performed I’m proud to see the progress that has been Vice President and Regional Counsel, BP, retired during our brief time on Earth that you and made in space science and exploration since Carl ADVISORY COUNCIL I know that we live on a planet with a , Sagan penned “The Adventure of the Planets.” ROBERT D. BRAUN DAVID BRIN that the brighter dots in the night sky are other I hope we all look up and wonder where we’ll G. SCOTT HUBBARD GARRY E. HUNT planets, and that every twinkling star is probably be 40 years from now—exploring worlds beyond MARK HUNTER BRUCE JAKOSKY the center of its own with its own the sky and learning more about the cosmos and RYAN JOHNSON RYAN KRISER diverse and intriguing worlds and . our place within it. BEN LAMM BOB MCDONALD Space is hard; exploring it takes time, and PETE SLOSBERG TIM SPAHR it is vital. When scientists decide to take on a DIPAK SRINIVASAN KEVIN STUBE project like returning samples from the surface LORNE TROTTIER NEIL DeGRASSE TYSON of , it takes decades to accomplish the

4 THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 5 YOUR IMPACT

The New and Improved campaign, we also collected signatures on a planetary.org petition to U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden asking them HAVE YOU visited our website lately? We’ve to prioritize NASA funding for missions that made some big changes to planetary.org to will advance space science and exploration. make it easier for you to find information One thousand three hundred forty people about missions and worlds, learn about people from around the world signed this actions you can take to advance explora- petition, showing the strength of public tion, and view reports on program activities support for space exploration. enabled by your support. As you take a tour of the site, know Defending Earth Together that our improved ability to educate the public about space and EVERY YEAR on 30 June, The Planetary to rally support for more exploration was Society teams up with the Founda- made possible by your support as a member. tion and its global partners to mark Asteroid Day and raise public awareness of the threat Advancing Advocacy of near-Earth objects that may impact Earth. This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, THIS YEAR’S effort to raise funds for our Asteroid Day’s events were all online. You space advocacy program was a huge success. can check out all the great content from With the support of members and donors around the world, including a message from like you, we were able to raise over $95,000 our CEO Bill Nye, at asteroidday.org. to directly aid our critical work in Wash- ington, D.C. to push for NASA funding and Charting the Future of Exploration

THE decadal survey is a consensus document that establishes the scientific priorities for the next 10 years of planetary exploration. This year, The Planetary Society’s Space Policy & Advocacy program submitted 2 papers to the decadal committee that would advance the organization’s goals of searching for life in the solar system and increasing our commitment to planetary defense. Our staff contributed to 3 additional papers: one focused on our ethical obligation to pursue planetary exploration, another focused on the value of small-cost missions, and a third focused on planetary defense in the upcoming era of advanced telescopic MEMBER ANTONIO PERONACE FOR THE PLANETARY SOCIETY surveys. This is another great example of to support the national and international how The Planetary Society promotes your campaigns we organize to make sure space values in space science and exploration in exploration gets the political and financial every step of the process. Find the papers at support it needs. Alongside this fundraising planetary.org/space-policy.

6 THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 Working for Space for Finding Earth-Like Everyone Exoplanets

IN JUNE, the entire planet saw communi- EVER SINCE The Planetary Society’s ties gather to demand an end to police founding 40 years ago, members like you brutality against Black people. As protests have moved planetary science forward by spread around the world, more people directly funding innovative science and became aware of the deep systemic roots technology projects. This year was no excep- of the problem. Racism is an issue that tion. Planetary Society members and donors affects every facet of society, including came together to raise more than $62,000 humanity’s endeavor to explore the cosmos. for the 100 project to fund the search The Planetary Society is committed to for Earth-like exoplanets. The science

NASA//DANIEL RUTTER working against racism. We made public teams, led by Yale University astronomer statements in support of the Black Lives Debra Fischer, were able to buy a much- ABOVE Matter movement and the justice it seeks needed photonic crystal fiber (PCF), which This artist’s concept shows what for the murder of citizens like George Floyd is an ultra-sensitive cable used to transport Kepler-1649c could look and Breonna Taylor. We began engaging in light. Fischer’s teams are using it to send like on its surface. The public discussions about racism in space light from the Lowell Discovery Telescope planet is the closest to Earth exploration, including a powerful conversa- and Lowell Solar Telescope in Arizona into in size and temperature tion between our CEO, Bill Nye, and retired an advanced spectrometer for exoplanet found yet in data from the . NASA Leland Melvin. In August, detection. The crucial concepts used in our staff took part in an intensive training the spectrometer grew out of technology session to confront how racism functions in research that Planetary Society members ABOVE LEFT Watch retired society, in the space sector, and in even the helped fund between 2009 and 2014. “The astronaut Leland Melvin most well-intentioned individuals. This is contributions that The Planetary Society has and Planetary Society CEO ongoing work, and it is every bit as chal- made to exoplanets have had a huge impact Bill Nye’s conversation at planetary.org/video. lenging as it is important. We look forward on the field,” said Fischer. “I think that liter- to continuing to update you on our work to ally I would not be at the place that I’m at ensure an equitable future in space explora- now if not for that support.” The PCF that tion for every human being on Earth. members and donors funded will be used as part of a search for Earth-sized exoplanets around nearby stars that could have the potential to host life. Planetary Society members like you make this work possible.Thank you!

THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 7 GET INVOLVED

Take Action With Us One of the awesome features of our new website is a one-stop-shop action center where you can find ways to make your Discover the Cosmos mark on the future of space exploration. Whether it is teaching someone about the Right at Home critical importance of planetary defense, Whether you have access to a backyard or signing a petition for NASA funding, or just your window and are using a telescope or speaking up about timely policy issues, just your eyes, there’s a lot to see when you you can make a difference right now by look up at the night sky. Planetary Society going to planetary.org/action-center. members sent us their top tips for enjoying stargazing and planet watching, which we’ve compiled into an easy beginner’s guide. Once you start exploring the night sky, there’s From Bits to Beautiful no limit to what you’ll find. Check out the Whenever a spacecraft captures an image guide at planet.ly/beginnersastronomy. of a planet, moon, asteroid, or any other celestial object, it sends that photo back to Earth as raw data. What you may not know is that this raw data is freely accessible to the public. In a new, free online course, Solar System Specialist Emily Lakdawalla shows you how to access this data and process it into stunning images. Not only do you get the satisfaction of discovering what a

Be a Planetary Defender By the time this magazine reaches you, RIGHT This ultraviolet- The Planetary Society will be wrapping up light image of , our campaign to raise funds for planetary captured by Japan's defense. If you haven’t had a chance to spacecraft on make your gift yet, it’s not too late to help. 15 January 2017, was Your support will help us pursue a variety processed by Damia spacecraft is seeing but you can also make of activities to protect Earth from asteroid Bouic to bring out cloud valuable contributions to space exploration by details that are invisible impacts by finding, tracking, character- generating unique space images like the ones to the human eye. izing, and deflecting incoming featured throughout this magazine (many JAXA/ISAS/DARTS/DAMIA BOUIC and coordinating all these efforts inter- of which were produced by amateur image nationally. Learn more and support plan- processors). Learn how to make your own etary defense at planet.ly/defendearth. space images at courses.planetary.org and show off what you make by sending it to us at [email protected].

8 THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 SOCIETY TRAVEL

Planetary Society Member Adventures

We invite you to travel with The Planetary Society to see wonderful eclipses or the aurora borealis in 2020 and 2021! ABOVE This painting, titled Calling All Creatives! Travel restrictions during the COVID-19 “Jupiter Storm,” was Do you create art or maybe music, poetry, pandemic are evolving. For updated shared by Planetary sculpture, or fashion to celebrate your love of information, contact Betchart Society supporter space? Whatever your creative outlet, we want Expeditions Inc. at 800-252-4910 or Andrew Stewart. go to betchartexpeditions.com. to hear from you! We’re inviting members from around the world to send us your artwork so that ARGENTINA TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE 2020 we can showcase the amazing variety of creations 8–19 DECEMBER 2020 that space inspires. You can share your creativity With optional Peru or Easter Island with us by emailing [email protected]. pretrips, 2–8 December 2020

ALASKA AURORA BOREALIS 11–17 MARCH 2021 See the greatest light show on Earth Old School on this ever-popular adventure!

Space Style DISCOVER THE GEOMAGNETIC NORTH POLE Forty years after our founding & WEST GREENLAND ANNULAR ECLIPSE date, we still love the style 1–12 JUNE 2021 See extraordinary landscapes, sled of The Planetary Society’s dogs, glaciers, and the annular eclipse original logo. You can get in on in this land of the midnight sun! this blast from the past with our awesome retro T-shirt. BAFFIN ISLAND, CANADA ANNULAR ECLIPSE Every purchase supports 6–12 JUNE 2021 Discover the “ring of fire” in the our mission to advance remote Canadian High Arctic! space science and explora- tion. Purchase yours today ANTARCTICA TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE 2021 at planetary.org/store. 23 NOVEMBER – 15 DECEMBER 2021 See the total eclipse in one of the most remote places on Earth, plus South Georgia and the Falkland Islands.

THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 9 WHAT’S UP? by Bruce Betts

ISRO/ISSDC/EMILY LAKDAWALLA

On Moon: IN THE SKY Chang’e-3 There is great sky stuff this quarter! Around the time of its 6 Chang’e-4 October closest approach, Mars will be 3 times brighter than the UNITED LAUNCH ALLIANCE brightest star and brighter than Jupiter. Mars’ brightness varies considerably as Earth and Mars orbit, and now is a very bright ABOVE LEFT 's Mangalyaan spacecraft took period. Mars won’t be any closer until 2035. Very bright Jupiter this image on 22 January 2016, not long after the Martian northern summer solstice. At the top of the Chang’e-5 T1 and yellowish Saturn are in the evening West. On 21 December, view is the permanent northern water ice cap. they will be extremely close together in the sky. An almost-new Moon will provide dark skies for the Geminids meteor shower, ABOVE RIGHT NASA’s rover blasts off peaking on 13/14 December. The Geminids are usually the best for Mars atop an Atlas V rocket on 30 July 2020. shower of the year with 100+ meteors per hour from a dark site. A total solar eclipse will be visible from portions of and Argentina on 14 December with a partial eclipse visible from much of South America (see planetary.org/eclipse). Super-bright Venus dominates the predawn East. RANDOM SPACE FACT On 21 December 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will be closer in the sky than they have appeared in almost 400 years. They will be Where We Are 7 arc minutes apart or less than 1/4 the width of a full Moon. An At-a-Glance Spacecraft Locator TRIVIA CONTEST Our March equinox contest winner is Jano Mladonicky of The THREE NEW SPACECRAFT are currently cruising to Mars. Woodlands, Texas, USA. Congratulations! The question was: NASA’s Perseverance rover, China’s Tianwen-1 orbiter and Approximately how many of Earth’s Moon would fit inside rover, and the United Arab Emirates’ Hope orbiter all launched Earth (assuming no void space, i.e., assuming the volume successfully in July and August and are scheduled to arrive in of Moons smooshes into the volume of Earth)? The answer: February 2021. Approximately 49 Moons would fit inside Earth. The ’s BepiColombo spacecraft will perform its first Venus flyby on 15 October using the planet’s Try to win a copy of My First Book of Planets by Bruce Betts and gravity to shape the probe’s orbit as it journeys to Mercury. a T-shirt by answering this question: Five days later on 20 October, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft In 2020, about how much farther away is the Moon is scheduled to make its first sample collection attempt at from Earth (average distance) than it was when The asteroid Bennu. OSIRIS-REx will remain at Bennu until 2021 Planetary Society was founded in 1980? and return its samples to Earth in 2023.

Email your answer to [email protected] or mail your answer to Meanwhile, Japan’s spacecraft is slowly closing The Planetary Report, 60 S. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101. Make sure you in on Earth, where it will drop off its precious samples from include the answer and your name, mailing address, and email address (if you have one). By entering this contest, you are authorizing The Planetary Report to asteroid Ryugu in December. The samples, protected in an publish your name and hometown. Submissions must be received by 1 December 2020. The winner will be chosen in a random drawing from among all the correct atmospheric reentry capsule, will land in Australia while entries received. Hayabusa2 cruises onward to possibly visit another asteroid For a weekly dose of “What’s Up?” complete with humor, a weekly trivia contest, during an extended mission. Also scheduled for December and a range of significant space and science-fiction guests, listen to Planetary Radio at planetary.org/radio. is the launch of China’s Chang’e-5 sample return mission to the Moon.

10 THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 Mars Planets and spacecraft Mars year 35/solar longitude 287.7° Reconnaissance positions are shown Orbiter for 1 October 2020 or Solar longitude measures Mars’ season, MAVEN Julian 2459123.5 with equinoxes and solstices occurring ExoMars Trace Gas Julian dates, used by at 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°. Mars year InSight Orbiter astronomers, count up the Gaia 1 began at northern vernal equinox Mars days since noon Universal Earth-Sun L2 (solar longitude 0°) on 11 April 1955. Express Mars Odyssey Time on 1 January 4713 BC. Mars On Moon: Orbiter Chang’e-3 Mission SOLSTICE (SOUTHERN SUMMER) Chang’e-4 En route to Mars SOLSTICE (NORTHERN SUMMER) EQUINOX Tianwen-1 “STAND” INDICATES SMALL-BODY Queqiao Moon POSITION ABOVE OR BELOW THE ECLIPTIC Chandrayaan-2 Perseverance ARTEMIS Chang’e-5 T1 Hope ACE Lunar WIND Reconnaissance Earth Orbiter Earth-Sun L1 SOHO

DSCOVR Mars Ryugu Hayabusa2 LightSail 2 Earth

Parker Venus Solar STEREO BepiColombo Probe Mercury Ahead Sun

OSIRIS-REx Bennu COMING IN 2021 Main  Perseverance Mars arrival Asteroid  Hope Mars arrival Belt  Tianwen-1 Mars arrival  OSIRIS-REx Bennu departure

At this scale, Voyager 1 would be 27.3 centimeters or 10.8 inches away from the Sun. Voyager 1

Neptune

Uranus

Jupiter Cold Saturn At this scale, Classical would be Kuiper 22.7 centimeters Belt or 8.9 inches away from the Sun.

Voyager 2

THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 11 WHY I EXPLORE

RIGHT Heidi in her homemade LightSail Halloween costume. I Am the Cosmos 40 I WAS BORN at 11:11 p.m. on a starry night with black holes, discovered exoplanets, and a full Moon, so maybe that’s why the night sky launched LightSails. However, my generation always pulls me. I have loved space from as far has also inherited a mass extinction event due back as I can remember. to a human-caused climate crisis. I aim to use Being 10 years old, I haven’t been to space the same that drives space explora- yet, but I am always looking up. One crisp Sep- tion to solve environmental tragedies on our tember night, my mom and I were walking on home planet. the boardwalk when I noticed the Moon, Mars, I will be 70 years old when The Planetary and Jupiter shining bright over the ocean—a Society turns 100. Maybe by then we will moment I will never forget! divert dangerous asteroids, find , I am always exploring. I love to look for or reverse climate change! in wet moss, flip logs to discover The fact that we are all made of star stuff salamanders, and hunt rock piles for fossils. tells me that I AM the cosmos, not just an HEIDI JACOBS is a 10-year- So far, I have found 2 fossils! My life goal is observer. I am as connected to the vastness old student at Haddonfield to go to Mars to analyze the rocks there for of space above me as I am to an ant, an oak tree, Friends School, a Quaker biosignatures like stromatolites. and my fellow humans all across the globe. It is school in New Jersey. She is a proud member of The In the first 10 years of my life, I have wit- my hope that together we can sail to the stars Planetary Society; in fact, she nessed phenomenal achievements by the while holding dear our connection to each mows lawns to earn money science community. We have photographed other here on Earth. to donate! When not looking through her telescope, Heidi WHY I EXPLORE Planetary Society members are explorers. We share this common passion, although enjoys horseback riding, we have different stories that drive our passion. We’re curious to know your story. If you’d like to share, swim team, and writing. She loves to travel near or far and we’ve set up a form at planetary.org/whyexplore, where you will also be able to read other “Why I is always up for an adventure. Explore” stories. We’ll also continue to share stories in future issues of The Planetary Report.

12 THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 Celebrating 40 Years HOW DO YOU TOP landing humans on the Congress, as the potential organizer of such an Moon? For NASA, the answer was planetary organization. On 30 November 1979, Murray, exploration. Spacecraft built by the agency’s Sagan, and Friedman formed The Planetary Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Society. According to its formation documents, California filled the 1970s with planetary The Planetary Society was founded to spread firsts: orbited Mars, flew public awareness of planetary exploration and past Mercury, visited Jupiter, and the search for life, share the latest findings made it to Saturn. The Viking probes from those efforts, and stimulate the develop- performed the first in 1976, and a ment of new science and technology projects. year later, the dual Voyager probes embarked Forty years later, none of that has changed on a grand tour of the solar system. except the addition of defending Earth Things looked less rosy at the end of the from dangerous asteroids. Our members decade. The high-dollar Viking and Voyager and supporters have delivered hundreds of programs came at a cost, stifling the devel- thousands of petitions to the U.S. Congress opment of smaller missions. Meanwhile, the and have changed the political fortunes of fledgling program was behind planetary missions. We have funded ground- ABOVE THE TIMELINE: schedule, over budget, and gobbling up more breaking technological advancements in Selected milestones and more of NASA’s budget. Policymakers solar sailing. We have united researchers in The Planetary 40Society’s history 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 BELOW THE used a perceived lack of public interest in from around the world to work together on TIMELINE: Selected milestones planetary exploration as an excuse to slash asteroid defense. Today, we are the world’s in space history budgets further, and at one point in the early largest and most influential independent worldwide 1980s, NASA seriously considered divesting space-interest organization. itself from JPL altogether. To celebrate The Planetary Society’s 40th Bruce Murray, a California Institute of anniversary, we’re looking back at some big Technology planetary scientist who had moments in planetary exploration during played key roles in many NASA planetary our existence along with our own mile- exploration firsts, took command of JPL in stones in helping to advance space science 1976. Murray was alarmed at the situation, as and exploration. While we couldn’t possibly was Carl Sagan, a Cornell University - list all the amazing accomplishments of the omer who was making a name for himself past 4 decades (we know of at least 35 space as a public science communicator. Murray missions that didn’t get a mention), we and Sagan wanted to build a grassroots tried to include major scientific and cultural advocacy group to prove there was public milestones—moments likely to be remem- support for planetary exploration. They iden- bered by the general public and achievements tified Louis Friedman, a JPL engineer who relevant to our organizational priorities. was finishing a 1-year fellowship in Wash- Here’s to the next 40 years. There’s so much ington, D.C. learning the inner workings of more to explore. ON THE NEXT PAGE: THE 1980s

THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 13 The 1980s There was much work to be done after The Planetary At a time when U.S. government scientists were Society’s formation. Budget cuts, along with an ill- barred from working with the , The fated U.S. policy to launch all missions on the Space Planetary Society helped bring the 2 superpowers Shuttle, created what is often referred to by planetary closer together. By the end of the 1980s, things were scientists as the "lost decade." No new U.S. planetary starting to look up: the Space Shuttle finally launched missions were launched from 1978 to 1989, and the long-delayed and missions. only through sustained appeals from organizations Brighter days were ahead. like The Planetary Society did NASA’s planetary program survive.

The Planetary Society launches its The Planetary first political action Society begins Planetary campaign, lobbying The Planetary advocating for Society for a U.S. mission Society holds its international members begin to Halley’s . first Planetfest cooperation funding efforts Supporters send more celebration for Members begin Carl Sagan, writing on in planetary for SETI, the The first than 10,000 letters Voyager 2’s flyby funding Eleanor behalf of The Planetary exploration Search for issue of our to the White House, of Saturn. Many “Glo” Helin’s Society, urges NASA and organizes Extraterrestrial member which are in turn more Planetfests near-Earth object to send a spacecraft to a meeting Intelligence, magazine, forwarded to NASA have since been research and Saturn and . The between U.S. along with The Planetary unopened. Future held for planetary continue to support eventual mission, Cassini, and Soviet exoplanet Report, is campaigns would encounters her work for more would launch in 1997. scientists in research. published. be more effective. and landings. than a decade. ESA/DAVID DUCROS Graz, Austria.

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

Arnaldo Tamayo Space Shuttle NASA’s Voyager 2 The Soviet Union’s Méndez becomes Columbia launches spacecraft flies 13 the first Black on the program’s past Saturn captures the first astronaut in first flight. and continues color pictures from space, launching on to Uranus. Venus’ surface. aboard the Soviet Union’s Soyuz 38 spacecraft. Cosmos: A Sally Ride becomes Personal the first American Voyage woman in space. premieres on PBS.

Scientists Walter and Luis NASA’s Voyager 1 Alvarez propose probe flies past that an asteroid Saturn. From there, impact caused Guion Bluford its trajectory takes the extinction becomes the it into interstellar event that first Black NASA space. It is still killed off the astronaut in space, operating today. dinosaurs. flying aboard Space NASA/JPL/COLOR Shuttle Challenger. COMPOSITE BY GORDAN UGARKOVIC

14 THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

The Planetary Society celebrates NASA’s Voyager 2 Neptune flyby with Planetfest , Carl Planetary Society ’89—a 5-day event in Sagan, and Steven membership reaches an Pasadena, California Spielberg, along all-time high of 125,000 that attracts more with his son, Max, members in over 80 than 15,000 guests. activate project nations. It was Legendary rock and META, a Society- Planetary Society members one of the fastest- roller Chuck Berry sponsored, radio- enable Spacebridge, a televised growing membership serenades the spacecraft signal-based search event bringing together organizations of as it leaves the solar for extraterrestrial American and Soviet space the decade, thus system with a rendition intelligence at scientists via satellite to advocate proving strong of “Johnny B. Goode” Harvard’s Oak Ridge for cooperative human and citizen interest in that includes the lyrics Observatory. robotic space . space exploration. “go, Voyager, go!”

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

The Sovet Union launches the first piece of the space station.

Space Shuttle Atlantis launches the Magellan NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft NASA’s Voyager spacecraft makes the first (and to date, 2 spacecraft to Venus. only) Uranus flyby and heads makes the first on to Neptune. (and to date, NASA/JPL-CALTECH only) Neptune flyby. From Space Shuttle Challenger there, its breaks apart during launch, trajectory A fleet of international killing all 7 crew members. takes it into spacecraft fly by Halley’s comet. interstellar NASA is not among the space. It is still participants due to budget operating today. Space Shuttle Atlantis cuts and Space Shuttle delays NASA/JPL-CALTECH launches the Galileo that happened in the late spacecraft to Jupiter. 1970s and early 1980s. NASA/SMITHSONIAN HALLEY MULTICOLOR CAMERA INSTITUTION TEAM, PROJECT, ESA

THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 15 The 1990s In the late 1980s and early 1990s, NASA’s budget The Planetary Society, which had been advocating rose again only to decline once more starting in the for Mars exploration for years, sponsored several mid-1990s. In order to maintain a steady pace of related technology-development efforts. Our Mars planetary exploration missions, the agency introduced Balloon was slated to fly on the Soviet Union’s its “Faster, Better, Cheaper” approach to mission Mars ‘96 mission before the mission was canceled. design. For the first time in 20 years, Mars became Society-funded rover tests in Death Valley, California a major focus with the start of a systematic, long- helped pave the way for NASA’s Mars term program to understand the Red Planet. rover. Our Mars Microphone flew on NASA’s in 1999, becoming the first crowdfunded science experiment to fly to another planet. Sadly, Polar Lander crashed on the surface.

Planetary Society members support testing of a Mars Balloon slated to fly on the Soviet Union’s Mars ‘96 mission. Although the mission is canceled, the Mars The Planetary Balloon effort leads Society sponsors to the Society’s role tests in helping to develop in California’s rover technology. Death Valley.

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Astronauts aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour repair the Hubble Space Telescope.

Contact is lost Before permanently Japan launches NASA’s Mae Jemison with NASA’s Comet Shoemaker- powering down its its first lunar Magellan becomes the first Levy 9 slams into cameras, Voyager 1 mission, Hiten. spacecraft Black woman to spacecraft just Jupiter, marking the turns around and takes arrives at Venus travel in space. before arrival, first time humans a portrait of our solar Space Shuttle to map the facilitating the have watched an system, capturing Earth Discovery surface with formation of the object strike another as a launches the radar, revealing agency’s Mars world. The incident scattered in sunlight. Hubble Space the first detailed Exploration provides a sobering Carl Sagan’s moving Telescope. global look program. Decades reminder that such description of the im- Early images beneath the of successful objects can similarly age becomes forever show that the planet’s clouds. Mars exploration impact Earth. NASA/JPL occur as a result. DATA: H. HAMMEL, MIT, associated with it. mirror is out of AND NASA. PROCESS- alignment and ING: JUDY SCHMIDT. that a corrective optics package will need to be installed.

16 THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

NASA’s Pathfinder Planetary geologist Seed funding spacecraft launches Gene Shoemaker, an from The to Mars carrying early advocate for Planetary Society Sojourner, a rover near-Earth object sky helps launch named through a surveys, dies in a car SETI@home, a Planetary Society accident. The Planetary global program contest. The Society establishes the allowing anyone Pathfinder lander Shoemaker Near-Earth to donate spare also contains Object Grant program The Mars computer power a “microdot” with in his honor to fund Microphone, funded to the search A Society expedition the names of astronomers who entirely by Planetary for radio signals sends members to 100,000 Planetary discover and characterize Society members, from intelligent Belize to search Society members. asteroids that might launches to Mars life. Millions of for evidence of the threaten Earth. To aboard NASA’s people would Chixculub asteroid Planetary Society date, Society members Mars Polar Lander. participate in the impact that wiped cofounder Carl Sagan have funded 62 grants The spacecraft program until out the dinosaurs. dies at age 62. totaling $440,000. crashes on arrival. its end in 2020.

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

NASA’s Galileo Russian Valeri NASA’s Russia Eileen Collins spacecraft Polyakov sets the Cassini launches becomes the arrives at record for the spacecraft the first first woman Jupiter. longest single trip launches module of the to command a in space: 438 days. to Saturn. International Space Shuttle Scientists Space Station, flight. confirm the . first existence NASA’s Pathfinder The 1900s end of an exoplanet spacecraft lands with Space orbiting a on Mars and Shuttle Discovery Sun-like star. successfully landing on 28 deploys the December 1999, Sojourner rover. allowing NASA A new era of U.S. It is the first to power off all and Russian space successful U.S. Space Shuttles cooperation begins Mars mission in before New with the Shuttle-Mir 21 years. NASA Year’s Eve in case program, for which names the landing of Y2K software Russians ride on the site the Carl Sagan glitches. Space Shuttle, and the Memorial Station. shuttle begins visiting NASA/JPL Mir. The program paves the way for the International Space Station.

THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 17 The 2000s The new millennium began with a strong outlook for sent 16 students to JPL to work in mission operations planetary exploration. Although NASA launched no new for and , while our Visions of Mars high-cost flagship missions, more than 10 spacecraft project sent a DVD library to Mars aboard NASA’s began journeys to other worlds. Half were Mars-bound. lander in 2007. It remains there, waiting for The Spirit and Opportunity rovers, named through a retrieval by future . We also attempted a contest implemented by The Planetary Society, would space mission of our own in 2005; would far exceed their design lifetimes on Mars, while New have been the world’s first spacecraft had Horizons, the product of a new midcost NASA mission the Russian rocket carrying it not failed. The loss of program, blasted off for . The Planetary Society Cosmos 1 led to LightSail, a pair of crowdfunded fought tirelessly to get a Pluto mission to the launch spacecraft that would demonstrate the power of solar pad. The Society’s Red Rover Goes to sailing for small, standardized called .

The Society provides outreach for The NASA and NASA’s European Space mission by teaming with LEGO Agency (ESA) to create the Red Rover Goes Cassini-Huygens to Mars program. Among other mission arrives at Planetary Radio, the accomplishments, the program Saturn, bearing Society’s weekly radio show sends students to work on rover a CD containing hosted by , missions at JPL. One student, Abigail handwritten premieres. Episodes from Fraeman, ends up becoming the signatures of Planetary the show’s entire history deputy project scientist for the Society members can be found on our website. Spirit and Opportunity rovers. and supporters.

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

China performs NASA’s The joint its first human Spirit and NASA-ESA as Yang Opportunity Cassini- Liwei reaches orbit rovers land Huygens aboard Shenzhou 5. successfully on mission arrives Mars. They far at Saturn. Space Shuttle exceed their NASA’s NEAR Columbia disintegrates 90-day design SpaceShipOne spacecraft lands during atmospheric lifetimes; becomes the on asteroid Eros. reentry, killing all Spirit’s mission first private NASA/JHU-APL 7 crew members. formally ends to in 2010, while carry humans Opportunity’s beyond the Expedition 1, the first ends in 2019. boundary long-duration mission to of space. the International Space ESA sends its Station, begins with a joint first spacecraft, Russian-American crew. The SMART-1, to station has been occupied lunar orbit. continuously ever since. ESA’s spacecraft launches to comet 67P/ Churyumov– Gerasimenko.

18 THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

On what would have been Carl Sagan’s 75th birthday, The Planetary Society announces LightSail, a program to demonstrate the power of solar sailing for small, standardized satellites called CubeSats.

NASA’s Phoenix The Planetary Society The Society In partnership spacecraft lands cosponsors the begins funding with Harvard on Mars with Planetary Defense exoplanet University, our archival disc Conference in Granada, programs The Planetary containing names Spain. To date, we led by Yale’s Society sponsors of Planetary have cosponsored Debra Fischer, a new telescope Society members conferences in leading to Cosmos 1, The dedicated to and supporters, a Romania, Italy, Tokyo, improvements Planetary Society’s an optical SETI library of fiction and the U.S.—all in in the way first solar sail mission, search, looking and nonfiction service of defending scientists launches from a for light signals books, artwork, and our planet from search for Russian Volna rocket from intelligent essays about Mars. dangerous asteroids planets around NASA/JPL/UNIVERSITY but fails to reach orbit. beings. OF ARIZONA and . other stars.

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

NASA’s NASA’s Lunar spacecraft hurls an Reconnaissance impactor into comet Orbiter (LRO) Tempel 1, ejecting a launches to the plume of ice and dust Moon to collect that allows scientists detailed high- to peer beneath the resolution surface NASA’s New Horizons Chang’e-1 India’s first surface of a comet. images. Its rocket spacecraft launches becomes planetary stage and a second to Pluto with a CD of China’s first mission, spacecraft are 430,000 names that planetary Chandrayaan-1, intentionally includes a Planetary mission beyond arrives in smashed into the Society member roster. Earth orbit. lunar orbit. XINHUA Moon, creating a debris plume that NASA’s allows scientists mission returns to look for water. particles from the After separating from coma of a comet Cassini, Huygens lands to Earth. Both the on Saturn’s moon spacecraft and the Titan and captures return capsule contain the first images from the names of Planetary the surface. Society members. NASA/JPL/ESA/UA

THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 19 The 2010s The 2010s began with a changing of the guard as cofounder Hastened by the economic crisis of 2008, the Lou Friedman retired and was succeeded by CEO Bill 2010s would see NASA’s budget bottom out at Nye, The Science Guy—a Society charter member who lows not seen since shortly after The Planetary was inspired by Carl Sagan when he took one of Sagan’s Society’s founding. We undertook multiple astronomy classes at Cornell University. In 2015, The advocacy campaigns to keep NASA’s planetary Planetary Society’s LightSail 1 spacecraft successfully tested exploration program from stalling, including its solar sail deployment mechanism in space. Four years later, years of advocacy that helped get NASA’s LightSail 2 launched aboard a SpaceX rocket mission approved in 2015. By and used sunlight alone to change its orbit, demonstrating the end of the decade, NASA and planetary the feasibility of controlled solar sailing for small spacecraft. exploration budgets were once again on the rise.

Funding begins for Exoplanet Laser, a cutting-edge calibration A Planetary Society experiment system used by Lou Friedman called LIFE is sent to space Planetary Society telescopes searching Planetary Society retires as The and back during Space Shuttle funding helps scientists for Earth-sized planets members begin Planetary Endeavour’s last flight. LIFE, figure out why around other stars. funding an Society’s the Living Interplanetary Pioneer 10 and 11 are Planetary asteroid deflection executive Flight Experiment, tested slowing down slightly Society The Planetary Society technology named director, and the idea that a living as they head out of cofounder announces 2 launches Mirror Bees, later Bill Nye takes organism might survive a the solar system—a Bruce Murray for its LightSail program: to be known as the helm journey through space to phenomenon known as dies at the one in 2015 and another Laser Bees. as CEO. Earth inside a meteorite. the . age of 81. scheduled for 2016.

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

Space Shuttle NASA’s Liu Yang becomes NASA reactivates its Atlantis flies the spacecraft the first Chinese WISE spacecraft as program’s final becomes the woman to fly in NEOWISE and gives it a mission. No crewed first orbiter of space, launching new mission to detect, orbital a main-belt aboard Shenzhou 9. track, and characterize would launch asteroid. moving solar system from the U.S. until NASA’s Curiosity objects, including 2020—the longest spacecraft lands on potentially dangerous ESA’s Rosetta such gap in history. Mars using a new near-Earth asteroids. probe becomes entry, descent, and the first space- landing sequence Virgin Galactic’s craft to orbit that includes a SpaceshipTwo a comet. Its rocket-powered breaks lander, , “skycrane” that apart over California’s unintentionally lowers the rover Mojave Desert, killing bounces upon to the ground via one crew member and impact and NASA’s MESSENGER nylon cables. injuring the second. is later found probe becomes resting in a the first spacecraft India’s first Mars crevice. to enter orbit ESA/ROSETTA/MPS mission, Mangalyaan, FOR OSIRIS TEAM at Mercury. arrives safely in orbit. MPS/UPD/LAM/IAA/ NASA/JHUAPL/CIW/COLOR SSO/INTA/UPM/ MOSAIC BY JASON PERRY DASP/IDA/JACINT ROGER PÉREZ/EMILY LAKDAWALLA

20 THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 CELEBRATING 40 YEARS

Planetary Deep Drill, The Planetary a Society-sponsored Society organizes technology for its first annual collecting samples Testing for Honeybee Day of Action, from deep beneath Robotics’ PlanetVac, which brings planetary surfaces, a Society-sponsored nearly 100 is successfully The Society helps sample collection members from tested in a California form the Planetary technology, occurs in across the U.S. gypsum quarry. After years of Science Caucus, a California’s Mojave to Washington, Planetary Society bipartisan coalition Desert aboard a D.C. to speak advocacy, NASA LightSail 1 deploys of U.S. congressional Masten Xodiac rocket. with their LightSail 2 becomes officially commits its solar sail in members who NASA has since congressional the first spacecraft to a dedicated Earth orbit and advocate for selected PlanetVac representatives to demonstrate Europa mission. completes a NASA’s planetary for inclusion on a about supporting controlled solar NASA/JPL-CALTECH successful test flight. exploration work. future lunar mission. space exploration. sailing in Earth orbit.

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019

NASA Russia’s Gennady NASA announces Israel and India NASA formally astronaut Padalka sets the that 2 microphones attempt robotic establishes a Scott Kelly record for the most will fly on its Mars lunar landings, but planetary defense and Russia’s cumulative time in Perseverance both spacecraft program within its Mikhail space at 879 days, Rover. The crash during their planetary science Kornienko accumulating the time Planetary Society final descents to division. The begin a 1-year during 5 different stays began advocating the surface. program supports mission on Mir and the ISS. for and working both ground- aboard the on early Mars based near-Earth International microphones object detections Space Station. in 1996. and missions to test deflection NASA astronaut Peggy and detection Whitson sets the record capabilities. for the most cumulative time in space—more NASA’s New Horizons than 665 days—by an spacecraft flies past American and by a China’s Chang’e-4 spacecraft Pluto, turning what woman. She racks up and -2 rover complete was before a blurry the time during 3 stays the first landing on the smudge of light into on the ISS, and during far side of the Moon. a complex world with one, she is its first CHINESE NATIONAL SPACE AGENCY (CNSA) icy dunes, plains, AND CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (CAS) woman commander. and mountains. NASA/JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY/ SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE/ALEX PARKER

THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 21 The 2020s The Planetary Society began the 2020s with an operational spacecraft in orbit. To celebrate LightSail 2’s first year in space, we announced an extended mission dedicated to further advancing solar sail technologies. The mission team will continue tuning the spacecraft’s performance, will investigate using the solar sail to intentionally generate drag, and will share mission results with the public. Soon, we will begin to accept proposals on our next crowdfunded sci-tech project. The 2020s have the potential to be one of the most exciting decades ever for planetary exploration. NASA’s Perseverance rover will directly search for signs of past life on Mars, something the agency has not done since the 1970s Viking missions. NASA’s Europa Clipper and ESA’s JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) missions will explore the habitability of Jupiter’s icy moons. NASA and its international partners are planning to return humans to the Moon. The Planetary Society’s latest strategic framework sets ambitious new goals to advance space science and exploration and truly make space for everyone, but our core vision as spelled out by Lou Friedman, Bruce Murray, and Carl Sagan 40 years ago has not changed. We will explore new worlds, search for life, and defend our planet from asteroids. Let’s go!

2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029

NASA’s A fleet of NASA’s mission OSIRIS-REx returns to NASA lands OSIRIS-REx spacecraft launches on a 12-year Earth carrying samples the first spacecraft collects launched by journey to visit 8 asteroids. of asteroid Bennu. woman and a sample of the United next man on asteroid Bennu for States, China, NASA launches the James ESA’s ExoMars the Moon return to Earth. and the United Webb Space Telescope, a Rosalind Franklin rover under a 2019 Arab Emirates multipurpose observatory launches to Mars. directive from China launches arrive at Mars. that will, among other things, Japan’s MMX the Trump its Chang’e-5 scan the atmospheres of (Martian administration. lunar sample China launches planets orbiting other stars. Moons The highly return mission in the first Exploration) aspirational December. It is module of its NASA’s first Space Launch spacecraft date is likely the first mission new Tianhe System (SLS) rocket launches to to slip. to return samples space station. launches, sending the survey Mars’ from the Moon crew capsule to lunar orbit moons and NASA launches since the 1970s. and back. SLS and Orion NASA launches , to collect a the Europa are cornerstones of the a mission to a metal sample from Clipper mission Japan’s Hayabusa2 Private company agency’s Artemis moon- asteroid believed to . in the mid- spacecraft returns SpaceX launches landing program. One of be the exposed core 2020s. The its samples of 2 NASA astronauts the mission’s secondary of a . exact date MAXAR/ASU/P. RUBIN/ depends on asteroid Ryugu to the International payloads is NEA Scout, NASA/JPL-CALTECH to Earth in Space Station. a solar-sail-propelled which launch December. spacecraft that will visit ESA’s JUICE spacecraft vehicle the a nearby asteroid. launches to Jupiter. agency selects.

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NASA and ESA launch JUICE arrives at 2 missions to Mars to Jupiter to begin a retrieve the samples 3-year survey of collected by NASA’s Ganymede, Callisto, Perseverance rover and Europa. NASA’s spacecraft launches SPACECRAFT: ESA/ATG for return to Earth. MEDIALAB; JUPITER: NASA/JPL-CALTECH on a mission to Saturn’s moon Titan. NASA/ESA/J. NICHOLS (UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER); The flying motorcraft will land in 2034. GANYMEDE: NASA/JPL; IO: NASA/JPL/UNIVERSITY OF JOHNS HOPKINS APL ARIZONA; CALLISTO AND EUROPA: NASA/JPL/DLR Psyche arrives at its same-named metal asteroid, Psyche.

THE PLANETARY REPORT C SEPTEMBER EQUINOX 2020 23 THE PLANETARY SOCIETY 60 SOUTH LOS ROBLES AVENUE PASADENA CA 91101-2016 USA

Pavel Gabzdyl, Space Odyssey

In this issue of The Planetary Report, we look back over The overwhelming feeling is one of awe, wonder, 40 years of exploration and forward to what is to come. and appreciation.

This piece of artwork by Planetary Society member As we look back over our organization’s history and Pavel Gabzdyl, a science communicator from Brno forward to the future of exploration, we feel the same. Planetarium in the Czech Republic, gives the feeling Thank you to all of our members and supporters who of gazing through time and space. From a distance, have made this possible. We look forward to enjoying we look out upon our home planet and beyond. the next decades of exploration alongside you.

Do you want to see your artwork here? We love to feature our members throughout this magazine. Send your original, space-related artwork to [email protected].