The Planetary Society

What The Planetary Society does

The Planetary Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1980 by Carl Sagan, Louis Friedman, and Bruce Murray, headquartered in Pasadena, California with 11-50 employees. It describes itself as the world's largest and most influential independent space advocacy group, organized around three core enterprises: exploring worlds, finding life beyond Earth, and defending Earth from asteroid impacts. Its core offerings include a tiered membership program (Explorer at $4/month through New Horizons at $2,500/month), The Planetary Report bimonthly magazine, the Planetary Radio weekly podcast with its Space Policy Edition monthly companion, an online Member Community, the Planetary Academy kids program, and educational courses. Distinctive technology programs include LightSail, a citizen-funded solar-sailing CubeSat whose successful demonstration validated the member-funded R&D model, and STEP Grants, which award $50,000 to research teams on space topics such as deep-space agriculture.

The organization's business model is direct-to-consumer member funding, with recurring monthly and annual memberships, one-time and recurring donations, and designated giving through campaigns such as Protect Our Shared Future for planetary defense. Distribution is predominantly self-serve via planetary.org, supplemented by third-party fundraising partnerships — notably Colossal's America's Favorite Teacher and America's Favorite Student competitions, which generated $4.8 million in 2026 donations via the DTCare fiscal sponsor. The core customer base comprises space enthusiasts, educators, students, and policy advocates; named flagship engagements include the 2026 Day of Action, which mobilized more than 130 advocates from 34 states to hold approximately 280 meetings with House and Senate offices, and the Save NASA Science Campaign, credited with helping defeat a proposed 47% cut to NASA Science in FY2026 (House 397-28, Senate 82-15). Leadership comprises CEO Jennifer Vaughn (appointed 2025/2026, succeeding Bill Nye, who continues as Chief Ambassador), Chief Advocate Casey Dreier, and Chief Scientist Bruce Betts.

Name

The Planetary Society

Legal name

The Planetary Society

Website

https://planetary.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Planetary Society is a member-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1980 by Carl Sagan and headquartered in Pasadena, that operates the world's largest independent space advocacy movement, engaging individual members, educators, and students in NASA science funding defense, planetary defense, and citizen-funded technology projects like LightSail.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space Advocacy Nonprofit

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Space & Astronomy Programs (EDAMABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)

Keywords

• Space advocacy
• Nonprofit membership
• Planetary defense
• Space science education
• Citizen-funded spacecraft

Headquarters

HQ city

Pasadena

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: The organization is member-funded, with individuals paying monthly or annual membership fees at various levels ranging from $4/month Explorer level to $2,500/month New Horizons level. Members receive benefits including The Planetary Report magazine, access to member community, advocacy opportunities, and merchandise premiums.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donations and charitable contributions from supporters, including one-time gifts and recurring donations designated to specific programs such as the Protect Our Shared Future planetary defense campaign.
3. Third-Party Fundraising Partnerships: The organization receives donations through third-party fundraising campaigns such as Colossal's America's Favorite Teacher and America's Favorite Student competitions, which raised $4.8 million in 2026 with donations granted to The Planetary Society.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Planetary Society is a member-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit that advances space science and exploration through tiered membership programs, space policy advocacy, educational content, and citizen-funded technology projects. Its core deliverables include the bimonthly Planetary Report magazine, the Planetary Radio podcast, an online member community, advocacy campaigns such as Save NASA Science, and the LightSail solar-sailing CubeSat demonstration.

Product overview

The Planetary Society is a member-funded nonprofit organization that operates as a platform-plus-program structure focused on space science advocacy, education, and outreach. The core offerings include tiered Membership Programs (Explorer through New Horizons levels) providing access to The Planetary Report magazine, Planetary Radio podcasts, the online Member Community, advocacy campaigns, and travel programs. Key programs include the Save NASA Science Campaign, the annual Day of Action advocacy event, LightSail citizen-funded spacecraft, STEP Grants for research, The Space Advocate Newsletter, and Planetary Academy for kids. The organization functions primarily as an advocacy movement and educational resource rather than a commercial product company, with its technology demonstration project LightSail being its most notable technical product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LightSail: Citizen-funded spacecraft project that successfully demonstrated solar sailing for CubeSats.
• Planetary Radio
• Planetary Academy
• The Planetary Report

Products and services

• Membership Programs Tiered membership programs ranging from Explorer ($4/month) to New Horizons ($2,500/month), offering benefits including personalized membership cards, access to the online Member Community, subscription to The Planetary Report magazine, member e-newsletters, advocacy campaign participation, invitations to events including Planetary Radio Live, name sent to space on select missions, and access to worldwide member travel programs. Special rates are available for students, seniors, and educators.
• Planetary Radio Weekly podcast featuring conversations with planetary scientists, engineers, advocates, and other space enthusiasts, covering the latest developments in space exploration and science.
• The Planetary Report Official magazine of The Planetary Society, published bimonthly, featuring articles about space science, exploration, and the organization's activities.
• LightSail
• Science and Technology Empowered by the Public (STEP) Grants
• Planetary Academy

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully influenced Congress to reject OMB's proposed 47% cut to NASA Science in FY2026, with House voting 397-28 and Senate 82-15 to protect funding.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ColossalcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 June 2026Colossal partnered with The Planetary Society for its America's Favorite Teacher and America's Favorite Student competitions, which celebrate educators and students who foster curiosity and learning. The competitions raised $4.8 million in 2026 for DTCare, a public charity that grants donations to The Planetary Society. Winners receive experiences including private tours of The Planetary Society headquarters.
• National Science Teaching AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Science Teaching Association is listed as a supporting organization for the America's Favorite Teacher and America's Favorite Student competitions.
• Reader's DigestminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReader's Digest partners with The Planetary Society for the America's Favorite Teacher and America's Favorite Student competitions, featuring winners in the magazine and providing additional prizes.
• Bill Nye (Science Guy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBill Nye serves as Chief Ambassador of The Planetary Society, participating in school assemblies, advocacy events, and representing the organization in public appearances and competitions.
• Western Washington University (WWU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWWU students participated in The Planetary Society's Day of Action advocacy event, meeting with legislators to advocate for NASA funding. The organization connects with universities for advocacy and educational outreach.
• DTCarecoreOthersDTCare is a registered public charity that serves as the fiscal sponsor for Colossal's America's Favorite Teacher and America's Favorite Student competitions, granting donations to The Planetary Society.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Space Society: US-based nonprofit space advocacy organization promoting space exploration and settlement. Directly comparable mission and member-funded operating model, though with more emphasis on space settlement than pure science advocacy.
• Space Foundation: Nonprofit advocate for the global space ecosystem, operating Space Symposium and education programs. Comparable advocacy-plus-education model with a heavier industry-event and conference focus.
• The Mars Society: Member-funded nonprofit focused specifically on Mars exploration and human settlement advocacy. Directly comparable grassroots-membership advocacy model, narrower mission scope.
• Secure World Foundation: Nonprofit focused on the secure and sustainable use of outer space, including planetary defense and space policy. Comparable advocacy and education scope with a more international policy focus.
• Astronomical Society of the Pacific: Long-running nonprofit advancing astronomy literacy and education through member programs and educator resources. Comparable member-funded education and outreach model focused on astronomy rather than planetary science policy.

Broad incumbents

• American Astronomical Society: Major professional society for astronomers, with public policy and education programming. Overlaps with the Society on space science advocacy but operates primarily as a professional membership organization for researchers.
• AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics): Largest professional society for aerospace engineers, with policy advocacy and publications. Comparable in policy advocacy breadth but serves a technical-professional audience rather than a consumer/donor base.
• Coalition for Deep Space Exploration: Industry-aligned advocacy group promoting deep space exploration programs. Comparable in NASA-budget advocacy but funded by aerospace primes rather than individual members.

Emerging players

• Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS): International student-run nonprofit advocating for space exploration. Comparable mission and grassroots advocacy model, smaller scale and university-chapter focused.
• Astronomers Without Borders: Nonprofit connecting amateur astronomy communities globally through outreach and education programs. Comparable nonprofit member-supported education model with a narrower astronomy outreach focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/exploreplanets
• Facebookfacebook.com/planetarysociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-planetary-society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Planetary Society