About Us

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Our Vision

Know the cosmos and our place within it.

Our Mission

Empowering the world’s citizens to advance space science and exploration.

Our Story

In 1980, Carl Sagan, Louis Friedman, and Bruce Murray founded The Planetary Society. They saw enormous public interest in space that was not reflected by government investment, as NASA’s budget was cut again and again. They established The Planetary Society to give anyone from anywhere in the world an active role in advancing space exploration.

Today, The Planetary Society continues this work, under the leadership of CEO Bill Nye, as the world’s largest and most influential non-profit space organization. The organization is registered 501(c)3 non-profit and engages a global community of more than 2 million space enthusiasts.

Planetary Society Co-Founders Planetary Society co-founders Bruce Murray, Carl Sagan, and Louis Friedman pose outside the Society's office in 1989.Image: The Planetary Society

We help people take an active role in space exploration

Anyone can become a member. Through advocacy, education outreach, scientific innovation, and global collaboration, membership funds our mission to:

"Thanks to the support of Planetary Society members around the world, we're on the verge of breakthrough precision that will allow for new discoveries."
Dr. Debra Fischer, Yale University astronomer and head of the 100 Earths exoplanet-hunting project at Lowell Observatory

"We need to make sure that we have groups like The Planetary Society always engaged, always interested… I cannot tell you how important it is."
Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine

“The Planetary Society provides everyone with the opportunity to be a contributing factor in the exploration of the universe. If that doesn’t get you excited, check your pulse.”
Patrick F., Planetary Society Member

Become A Member Today
When you become a member, you join our mission to increase discoveries in our solar system and beyond, elevate the search for life outside our planet, and decrease the risk of Earth being hit by an asteroid.
Become A Member

Our members' impact

Launched LightSail 2, a groundbreaking solar sailing spacecraft
Grants to 62 amateur astronomers in 19 countries who are hunting dangerous asteroids
500,000+ messages sent to Congress and White House in support of space exploration
Successfully led the fight to grow NASA’s planetary exploration budget by more than $1.5 billion between 2013 and 2020.
Fulfilling our founders vision with a thriving, active community of more than 2 million space enthusiasts

Visions of Mars, on Mars This image shows the DVD provided by The Planetary Society to the Phoenix mission, which contains 250,000 names of people who signed up to send their names to Mars. It also contains "Visions of Mars," messages to future Martian explorers, science fiction stories and art inspired by the Red Planet. The DVD is mounted on the deck of the lander, which sits about one meter above the Martian surface, visible in the background.Image: NASA / JPL / U. Arizona

When our members take action the world takes notice

LightSail 2 - Best Invention of 2019

The member-funded LightSail mission success story

Best of 2019 Award

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Sailing the Light Sailing the Light tells the story of the LightSail mission, a crowdfunded space science project from The Planetary Society.Video: The Planetary Society

Get empowered

Whoever you are, you have the power to make space exploration happen. Join us!

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Certified Platinum Transparency. Give with confidence. The Planetary Society is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States.