Mysteries of the Moon

In this special season five finale episode, join NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins, self-proclaimed “rock nerd” on a journey to the stars. 

Spacesuits are more than just garments – in the airless vacuum of space or on the freezing surface of the moon, they keep astronauts alive. Explore how NASA engineers like Amy Ross and Paromita Mitra have contributed to the development of the next generation of spacesuits. 

Tropical rainforests, snowy mountain peaks, even the Australian outback – NASA experts travel to a wide range of environments right here on Earth to better understand our universe. Miles Hatfield, NASA heliophysics science writer, recaps a recent reporting trip to cover a soundin ... Show More

Moons are a popular accessory for the outer planets in our solar system, but Mercury and Venus are suspiciously unadorned. In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe discuss why the two most inner planets have no moons today and whether they might have had moons i ... Show More

If history had been kinder, aviator Wally Funk might have become the first woman on the Moon. In the early 1960s, she was one of 13 female pilots who passed the same physical tests as the Mercury 7 astronauts. Unfortunately her chance never came and no one has walked on the Moon ... Show More

What physical processes have shaped the Moon? In this lecture, I describe the surface features of the Moon (the Maria and Highlands), how crater density tells us the relative ages of terrains, and what we have learned about Moon rocks returned by astronauts and robotic probes. I ... Show More

Nasa's first step in their plan to send humans back to the surface of the Moon is fast approaching. The programme, called Artemis, is costing tens of billions of dollars and will begin with Artemis I, scheduled to launch on 29 August. The uncrewed mission will send the Orion spac ... Show More

A project lead at NASA walks us through a new laser communication system that will be tested on the Artemis II mission to the Moon to drastically increase deep space data rates. HWHAP Episode 294.