Short Wave (NPR) – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Why is NASA going to the moon again?
Date: April 1, 2026
Host: Regina Barber
Featured Guest: Nell Greenfieldboyce (NPR Science Correspondent)

Overview

This episode of Short Wave explores NASA's Artemis 2 mission, the first planned crewed flight around the moon in over fifty years. Hosts Regina Barber and NPR science correspondent Nell Greenfieldboyce discuss the motivations, logistics, challenges, and wider significance of humanity’s renewed efforts to return to the moon—and what this means for potential future missions to Mars and beyond.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Artemis 2 Mission: What's Happening and Why?

• Mission Overview: Artemis 2 is a crewed test flight intended to send four astronauts around the moon for the first time since 1972, using the new Orion capsule atop the large SLS rocket.
• Commander’s Emphasis:

  “When we get off the planet, we might come right back home. We might spend three or four days around Earth, we might go to the moon. That's where we want to go. But it is a test mission.”
  — NASA Astronaut Reid Wiseman (01:24)

• The main goal is to test life support, navigation, and crucial spacecraft functions ahead of a future moon landing.

2. Launch Details & Uncertainties

• Location and Atmosphere: Nell reports live from Kennedy Space Center, describing the intense media presence and excitement around the rocket.

  “…I can see it, but it looks tiny out there. I mean, in reality it's 322ft tall, but...from where I am, I can see it along with the big countdown clock, you know, which is under this American flag.”
  — Nell Greenfieldboyce (01:57)

• Timing: The earliest launch is 6:24 pm ET, April 1st, but delays are possible due to weather or technical issues (e.g., hydrogen leaks). There are several launch windows over the coming week.
  — (02:34-03:05)

3. Mission Objectives and What Makes This Mission Different

• Testing the Medium: Artemis 2 is primarily a shakedown cruise to see if Orion can safely handle multi-day spaceflight with people onboard, including everyday essentials like the toilet (“the first toilet to go around the moon”).
  — (05:05-05:44)
• Decision Point: Astronauts will make a key decision about heading to the moon about one day into the flight, depending on systems performance.
  — (06:08)
• Flight Path: If all systems check out, the capsule enters a “figure eight” path, approaching as close as 4,000–6,000 miles from the moon, then looping back to Earth.

  “NASA has said that from where they are, the moon is going to look about the size if you held a basketball at arm's length...”
  — Nell Greenfieldboyce (06:46)

4. Historical Context and Firsts

• Two Decades in the Making: NASA has been pursuing a return to the moon for 22 years, tracing back to a speech from President George W. Bush outlining plans for new exploratory vehicles and lunar missions.
  — (07:30-07:56)
• Trailblazers: Artemis 2 is notable for being the first lunar mission to include a woman (Christina Koch), a person of color (Victor Glover), and an international partner (Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen).
  — (08:26)

5. Future Plans: Moon Landings and Beyond

• Lunar Landers Under Development: NASA is working with SpaceX and Blue Origin to build lunar landers. Jared Isaacman (NASA admin, entrepreneur, and private astronaut) is pushing for rapid lander development, hoping for a Moon landing as early as 2028 (though Nell and Regina express skepticism about this timeline).
  — (08:31-09:17)
• Vision of the Future:
  • NASA doesn’t just want “flags and footprints,” but aims for “near continuous human presence on the moon,” akin to operations in Antarctica.
  • Ambitious plans for lunar bases, power stations, and monthly landings—but each phase is enormously expensive.

  “…he's got a three phase plan, and phase one alone would cost, like, you know, $10 billion.”
  — Nell Greenfieldboyce (09:25-10:15)

• Cost Estimates:
  • Through 2025, estimated Artemis cost: $93 billion. Individual SLS launches are several billion each.
    — (10:19-10:46)

6. Public and Political Support — Then and Now

• Apollo-era Drop-off: The original moon program lost momentum due to domestic priorities and lack of continued public enthusiasm.
• Current Support:
  • Many people today are unaware NASA is even actively pursuing Artemis.
  • Recent polls show a majority now support Artemis—potentially more than supported Apollo in its day.
  • NASA’s budget is now less than 1% of federal spending (compared to 4% during Apollo).
  • Artemis enjoys bipartisan Congressional support.

  “…there was one recent poll that found that a majority of Americans did support the Artemis program...there was like more support for this program now than there was for Apollo back in the 1960s.”
  — Nell Greenfieldboyce (11:37)

7. Looking to the Future: From Moon to Mars

• Moon as a Stepping Stone:
  • NASA frames Artemis as part of its “Moon to Mars” initiative.
  • Some argue the moon is essential as a testbed for deep space living, while others worry that interest will stall before Mars is reached.
• Proving Grounds: Living on the moon presents unique challenges essential to learn before committing to Mars travel: lunar dust, resource extraction, long-duration life support, etc.
  — (13:20)
• International Collaboration and Competition:
  • NASA partners include Canada and Europe. China is also seeking lunar landings, spurring whispers of a new space race, though some point out, “we already won.” — (13:22-14:02)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Historic Reflection:

  "We leave as we came with peace and eloquence for all mankind."
  — Apollo 17 Astronaut Gene Cernan (00:52)

• Why test first:

  "This is the first flight of the Orion capsule with a crew on board... that means testing everything from life support to, you know, even the toilet. This is going to be the first toilet to go around the moon, which is pretty exciting."
  — Nell Greenfieldboyce (05:05)

• The scale of investment:

  "Every launch of one of these big rockets like the one I'm looking at, it costs several billion dollars."
  — Nell Greenfieldboyce (10:46)

• Moon as a ‘proving ground’:

  "They see it as a proving ground. That's the idea... if you want to live on another planet, it's different than long term habitation in space in a space station like the International Space Station."
  — Nell Greenfieldboyce (13:22)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:41: Introducing the context—first mission beyond low earth orbit since 1972.
• 01:49: Live from Kennedy Space Center—describing the scene, rocket, anticipation.
• 05:05: What Artemis 2 will test and why it’s not a given they’ll leave Earth orbit.
• 06:08: The go/no-go decision to head to the moon—"translunar injection burn."
• 07:30: A 22-year journey: historical political background and firsts for Artemis 2 crew.
• 08:31: Timeline for lunar landers and possible moon landing (2028?).
• 09:25: NASA’s ambitions for a lasting human presence—and the staggering costs.
• 10:46: Why did we stop after Apollo? What’s different about public/political support now?
• 12:30: Why are we going back? Is the moon a stepping stone to Mars?
• 13:22: International context: partnerships and emerging rivalry with China.
• 14:02: Close: anticipation for the launch and what comes next for Artemis.

Final Thoughts

The Artemis 2 mission represents a crucial step toward humanity's long-term presence on the moon—testing new hardware, breaking representation barriers, and setting the stage for future landings and perhaps even Mars exploration. With public support growing, international partnerships forming, and a new generation of astronauts poised for lunar orbit, the stage is set for a bold new era of exploration—though technical, logistical, and financial obstacles remain.

Recommended if You’re Interested In:

• Space history and the future of lunar/Martian exploration
• NASA’s Artemis program
• The intersection of science, politics, and public opinion
• How today’s astronauts and engineers build on the legacy of Apollo