In this episode of The Astro Ben Podcast, Ben speaks with astronaut and mission assurance expert Dr. John "Danny" Olivas from Intuitive Machines HQ. The conversation centers around the IM-2 Lunar Lander mission, set to land at the Moon's south pole in early 2025. Danny shares exclusive insights into the technology on board, including NASA's PRIME-1 drill, Nokia's Lunar Surface Communications System, and Intuitive Machines' Micro Nova Hopper.

The discussion also explores the critical role of engineering in lunar infrastructure, the challenges of operating in the Moon's extreme environment, and Danny's experiences as a NASA astronaut, including his iconic spacewalks and space shuttle repair missions.

This weeks episode is sponsored by Sky Fi.

Check them out: https://skyfi.com/

OUTLINE:

Here's approximate timestamps for the episode.

00:00 Intro to Episode

00:22 This weeks episode is sponsored by Sky Fi

00:42 Introducing Astronaut Dr. John "Danny" Olivas

01:28 Ben tries streaming for the first time (successfully)

02:04 Intuitive Machines IM-2

04:22 Challenges of landing on the lunar South Pole?

06:41 Micro Nova Hopper

09:19 First cellular network on the moon

Astronaut John " Danny " Olivas: Astronaut, Mission Assurance Expert, Author and Forensic Engineer