Space Policy Edition: What a NASA Authorization bill actually does

What does a NASA authorization bill actually do, and why does it matter? In this episode of Space Policy Edition, we dig into one of the most misunderstood but powerful tools Congress uses to shape the future of U.S. space exploration. Host Casey Dreier, chief of space policy at The Planetary Society, is joined by Jack Kiraly, the Society's director of government relations, for a deep dive into how NASA authorization bills work, how they differ from appropriations, and why they can have decades-long consequences for science missions, human spaceflight, and planetary defense. The discussion also reflects on a major recent win for space advocates: Congress's bipartisan decision to protect NASA science funding. Discover more at:

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Space Policy Edition: What a NASA Authorization bill actually does is an episode from Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science by The Planetary Society.

This episode is 60:35 long.

This episode was published on Feb 6, 2026.

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