CEO of the leading non-profit space advocacy organization, where the world’s citizens work to advance space exploration and science. As a student at Cornell University, Bill was introduced to the wonders of astronomy in a class taught by Professor Carl Sagan, cofounder of The Planetary Society, which Nye now leads. Nye joined The Planetary Society as a Charter Member in 1980. Nye’s engineering and management experience enabled him to take the lead and play a hands-on role in making programs like LightSail® a success.