Rocket Dreams: An Artemis Adventure

Summary

Wow in the World – "Rocket Dreams: An Artemis Adventure"

Podcast: Wow in the World (Tinkercast)
Episode Date: April 6, 2026
Hosts: Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz

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Episode Overview

In "Rocket Dreams: An Artemis Adventure", Mindy and Guy take listeners on a whimsical yet information-packed journey to explore NASA's Artemis program—the ambitious effort to return humans to the Moon and eventually pave the way for Mars exploration. The episode weaves fun, dreamlike sequences with sharp scientific insights, ensuring families are both entertained and educated.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Backyard Camping, Moonlight, and Dream Launch

• The adventure begins with the cast camping out under the stars, sparking questions about the Moon and whether humans will ever return (01:23–04:49).
  • Discussion of the moon’s brightness and joking exchanges about “turning off the moon”.
  • Friendly banter about myths, such as aliens powering the moonlight, setting a playful tone.

2. History & Future of Moon Landings

• Guy Raz summarizes the history of human moon landings, noting that the last visit was Apollo 17 in 1972 (04:13–04:36).
• Mindy expresses her wonder and desire to walk on the moon, leading into a dreamy sequence about returning there (05:26–06:08).

3. Artemis Program & Space Launch System (SLS)

• Dream-like context established: Mindy and Guy (now "Dream Guy Raz") answer questions about the Artemis program in a fantasy universe (06:11–07:52).
• Guy Raz explains:
  • The Artemis missions aim to send humans back as soon as 2026, collaborating with private and global agencies (07:57–08:14).
• Introduction to the Space Launch System (SLS), the giant rocket designed for Artemis:
  • Tall as the Statue of Liberty
  • 9.5 million pounds of thrust and $23 billion development cost (09:09–10:22).
• Memorable Quote:
  • "[The Artemis SLS is] the only Space Launch System rocket powerful enough to carry you, your astronaut friends, the spacecraft Orion, and all your cargo luggage directly to the moon on a single mission!" – Dream Commercial Voice (09:40)

4. The Orion Spacecraft: Reusable Technology

• Orion spacecraft will transport astronauts from Earth’s orbit to lunar orbit and back, and it’s partially reusable—a step forward for space sustainability (11:13–12:02).
  • Memorable Quote:
    • "Wait, so astronauts can ride in the Orion spacecraft to the moon and back, and then other astronauts can ride in it after they're done?" – Mindy (11:46)

5. Artemis Moon Base Camp & Lunar Exploration

• Describing the future Artemis Base Camp:
  • Lunar cabin, a lunar rover, and a “mobile home” for astronauts to live and work (13:09–14:01).
  • The base camp to be located at the lunar south pole, supporting both sunlight (energy) and darkness (for ice "cold traps") (12:40–15:19).
• Highlight:
  • The importance of lunar water:
    • Moon’s "darkest parts" hold water ice—vital for sustained exploration (15:03–16:26).
    • Memorable Quote:
      • "On the moon…it is [exciting]! And a lot of the time it is found in the darkest parts of the moon's surface. Parts that never see sun. Parts that are cold enough to freeze water into ice." – Guy Raz (15:42)

6. Practice for Mars

• The ultimate purpose: The Moon base is a testing ground for Mars missions (16:32–17:18).
  • Memorable Quote:
    • "Kind of like camping in your backyard before going off on a trip into the wilderness." – Mindy (17:13)

7. Returning Home & Blurring Dreams with Reality

• Mindy “returns” to Earth, unsure if what she dreamt was real, and Guy confirms the Artemis program is underway (18:17–20:21).
  • Artemis 1 (uncrewed) launched in 2022, Artemis 2 & 3 (crewed) scheduled for 2025 and 2026, respectively.
• Lighthearted moments—moon water jokes, fanciful dream characters like Thomas Fingerling flying via “toots” (19:54–21:26).

8. Listener “Wow in the World” Call-Ins (26:06–28:35)

• Kids share amazing science facts about animals (jellyfish, octopuses, bats, hippopotamus speed, etc.).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Apollo Missions:
  • "There has been life on the moon before, but that was during NASA's Apollo missions when they landed human astronauts there." – Guy Raz (04:21)
• On the Artemis SLS:
  • "With top speeds of 24,500 mph and 9.5 million pounds of thrust, the Artemis SLS rocket is built for deep space exploration." – Commercial Voice (09:59)
• On reusing spacecraft:
  • "But the Orion spacecraft is different…It's partially reusable." – Guy Raz (11:38)
• On the base camp:
  • "The Artemis Base Camp gives the NASA astronauts a place to live and work on the moon. See, there's a lunar cabin, a rover, and even a mobile home." – Guy Raz (13:44)
• Comic Relief:
  • "I guess you can launch yourself to the moon with toots." – Mindy (14:20)
  • "But what about Thomas Fingerling flying around with his toots and Grandma GeForce turning off the moonlight?" – Mindy (20:04)

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Important Timestamps

• 01:23 – Backyard camping, questions about the moon arise
• 04:13 – Debunking moon myths, history of the Apollo landings
• 07:52 – Introduction to Artemis and upcoming moon missions
• 08:25 – Space Launch System (SLS) explained
• 11:13 – Tour of the Orion spacecraft and its reusability
• 13:09 – Arrival at Artemis Base Camp; lunar environment
• 15:03 – Importance of moon water, “cold traps”
• 16:40 – Artemis Base Camp as practice for Mars
• 18:17 – Mindy wakes up, blurring dream and reality
• 20:46 – Details of Artemis 1 (uncrewed), 2 & 3 (planned crewed), timeline
• 26:06–28:35 – Kids’ “Wow in the World” call-in segment

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Tone & Style

• Language: Energetic, playful, whimsical, jargon-free yet informative.
• Dialogue: Sparkling with jokes, dream sequences, and silly asides, but regularly looping back to accurate science.
• Learning Approach: Story-driven, natural curiosity, questions followed by straightforward but imaginative answers.

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Conclusion

This episode made the Artemis program an adventure of both the mind and the imagination, inspiring kids and families to dream big about space exploration. Through the humorous interplay of dreams and science, Mindy and Guy made the next era of lunar—and Martian!—exploration as approachable and "bonker balls" as a backyard camping trip under a full moon.

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For more WOWs and science fun, visit Tinkercast.com.

Transcript

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey, Wowzer fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show. Oh, sorry about that. I forgot to put it on silent. Hey, wait a second. It's an email from us. Check it out, Reg. Let's see here. It says we've got episode recommendations, free STEM activities to try out at home. The latest news about what's happening at Tinkercast. Pretty bonker balls, huh? Here, I'll help you sign up. And the grown ups will just go to tinkercast.comemail and put in your first and last names and email address. Wait, Reggie, I just realized I don't know your last name. Really? Is that with a silent G or a silent Q? Huh, who knew? Let's see here. Oh, and you're not a robot, right? Sorry, just had to double check. Okay, you are all signed up grown ups. You can sign up for our Tinkercast newsletter too. It's full of ideas on how to get some extra wow to your family's life. Visit tinkercast.comemail to sign up today. That's tinkercast.comemail. that's it. And now let's get on with the show proceeded.

[Reggie]

3, 2, 1.

[Mindy Thomas]

Mission.

[Guy Raz]

Get ready for an adventure of magnificent proportion. I don't know what you've been told.

[Mindy Thomas]

We're in a golden age.

[Guy Raz]

So many discoveries that are jumping off

[Mindy Thomas]

the page while in the world Wild. A better way. Houston. Okay, everyone, time to zip it up and get to sleep.

[Dennis]

Zip.

[Reggie]

Nice and cozy.

[Mindy Thomas]

My zipper's busted. Fingerling. Gimme yours.

[Reggie]

I'm not giving you my zipper. G force.

[Guy Raz]

You know, Mindy, I was skeptical about a backyard campout, especially without a tent. But we really couldn't ask for a more perfect evening.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, it's real nice out here.

[Guy Raz]

Uh, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Sorry. Sorry, guy. Raz, I fell asleep. What were you saying?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, well, I was just saying that the temperature is just. There's not a mosquito in sight, the stars are shining bright and ah, feel that. There's a gentle breeze in the air.

[Reggie]

Oop. Excuse me.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yep, there's a breeze all right.

[Dennis]

Tommy, no tooting. I'm trying to look at the stars and the moon. Reggie. Nuh. You can't launch yourself to the moon with toots.

[Guy Raz]

Speaking of the moon, there's a full moon tonight. Look at it. It's magnetic. Magnificent.

[Mindy Thomas]

Turn it off.

[Guy Raz]

Um, sorry?

[Mindy Thomas]

I said turn it off. It's too bright. Wait, the moon? Yeah, I don't like all that light. Turn it off.

[Guy Raz]

You want us to turn off the moon Garage?

[Mindy Thomas]

I said turn off the moon. Can Nobody hear me.

[Reggie]

Well, maybe we'll just send you to the moon G Force, and you can unplug it yourself.

[Mindy Thomas]

You keep talking, and I'm gonna unplug you.

[Dennis]

Fingerling Grandma GeForce. You can't turn off the moon. Everyone knows there's a bunch of powerful aliens up there shining light so that we don't use too much electricity at nighttime.

[Reggie]

No way, dude.

[Dennis]

It's true. Mother says my night light is costing her a fortune. Mindy, wake up.

[Mindy Thomas]

What? Who. What was that? Uh, no one unplugged the moon.

[Guy Raz]

No one can unplug the moon because the moon does not run on electric.

[Dennis]

That's right, Guy Raz. It runs on alien power.

[Mindy Thomas]

Dennis, there are no aliens or any life forms on the moon.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. There has been life on the moon before, but that was during NASA's Apollo missions when they landed human astronauts there.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, and the last one was the Apollo 17 mission all the way back in 1972.

[Dennis]

Well, that was over 50 years ago. A lot could have changed up there since then.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. Okay, everyone, that's enough conspiracy theories theories for tonight. Now, settle down. Time to go to sleep. Okay.

[Dennis]

Ah, but Reggie and I aren't sleepy, are we, Reggie?

[Guy Raz]

Ow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Sweet dreams. See you in your nightmares.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Reggie]

Well, I think I'm gonna stay up here and keep on the lookout for any.

[Guy Raz]

Well, looks like they're out.

[Dennis]

Not me. I'll never fall asleep. I have the energy of a moon alien.

[Guy Raz]

Like.

[Mindy Thomas]

Sure is peaceful out here, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, finally. Just look up at that spectacular sky.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, it's so bonkerballs to think that every single star we see up there is actually billions of years old.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah. Or that actual humans have walked on that very moon.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, I do anything to be able to walk on that moon or even

[Guy Raz]

to live on that moon. It would be so peaceful and quiet.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hey, Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, Mindy?

[Mindy Thomas]

Do you think humans will ever get back to the moon? Back to the moon. Back to the moon. Back to the moon. Back to the moon. Back to the moon.

[Guy Raz]

Whoa.

[Mindy Thomas]

Reggie. Where are we? Reggie, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore. Oh, that's right. We've never been to Kansas.

[Guy Raz]

Hi, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, I'm not just regular old Guy Raz, Mindy. I'm Dream Guy Raz. And you're in your dream, and I'm in your dream. And Dream Reggie is in your dream, too. Hi, Dream Reggie.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait, what? Dream Guy Raz?

[Guy Raz]

That's right.

[Mindy Thomas]

What's the difference between regular old Guy Raz and Dream Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Well, regular old Guy Raz likes kale and wears a blue jacket with elbow patches. And Dream Guy Raz has fairy wings and a magic wand. Sword. Laser.

[Commercial Voice]

See,

[Mindy Thomas]

uh, that doesn't make any sense.

[Guy Raz]

Well, neither do your dreams, dream Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

What do you mean?

[Guy Raz]

Well, how about this?

[Mindy Thomas]

What?

[Dennis]

Poof.

[Guy Raz]

What?

[Dennis]

Look.

[Guy Raz]

Now you're floating in outer space with your motor pigeon.

[Mindy Thomas]

What in the. Reggie, you have wheels. In my dream. Wait, what was that?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, that's a question you were asking just as you were falling asleep. It's been floating around here for a while.

[Mindy Thomas]

Back to the moon. Back to the moon. Wow. Why is it floating around?

[Guy Raz]

Because you're a very curious person, and it's a very good question.

[Mindy Thomas]

Huh. I guess I am still curious. Will we humans ever go back to the moon, Dream Guy Razi?

[Guy Raz]

We sure will, dream Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

Really?

[Guy Raz]

How? Another great question.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, thank you.

[Guy Raz]

You see, humans haven't been to the moon since 1972. But with NASA's Artemis program and a little help from some private space and international space agencies, humans could be back on the moon as early as 2026.

[Dennis]

Ah, that's so close.

[Mindy Thomas]

But the moon is not that close, Guy Raz. We could fit anywhere between 28 and 32 Earths. Between Earth and the moon? How will we even get there?

[Guy Raz]

Why, we'll get there with the Space Launch System Rocket, or the SLS for short.

[Mindy Thomas]

The what?

[Guy Raz]

The Space Launch System Rocket. It was built specifically for the Artemis program. Five missions that will use new technologies to explore more of the moon's lunar surface than ever before.

[Mindy Thomas]

And to get to the lunar surface, NASA plans to use this Space Launch System rocket.

[Guy Raz]

That's right. Here, let me show you.

[Mindy Thomas]

Show me. Huh? Poof. Ah. Gotta be prepared for that. What in the. What is that?

[Guy Raz]

That dream, Mindy, is the NASA Space Launch System rocket of your dreams.

[Mindy Thomas]

Whoa. It's huge. It's taller than the Statue of Liberty.

[Guy Raz]

And almost as powerful, too. Here, let's watch this dream advertisement for it.

[Mindy Thomas]

A commercial for a rocket?

[Guy Raz]

You got it. Hidden dream advertisement.

[Commercial Voice]

Are you looking for a vehicle that's got what it takes to get you to the moon and back again?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, sure.

[Commercial Voice]

Then look no further than the Artemis sls, the only Space Launch System rocket powerful enough to carry you, your astronaut friends, the spacecraft Orion, and all your cargo luggage directly to the moon on a single mission. Now, that's power.

[Mindy Thomas]

I'll say.

[Commercial Voice]

With top speeds of 24,500 mph and 9.5 million pounds of thrust, the Artemis SLS rocket is built for deep space exploration.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, but it looks expensive. I wonder how much it costs.

[Commercial Voice]

And right now it only costs $23 billion.

[Mindy Thomas]

Is that a lot?

[Commercial Voice]

It's complicated.

[Reggie]

Oh, yikes.

[Commercial Voice]

The moon is waiting and it's got secrets to share. So get out there and climb aboard the most powerful rocket in the world. The Artemis Space Launch System. Built to.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow. Wow.

[Guy Raz]

Pretty impressive, huh?

[Mindy Thomas]

Dream minute, dream guy. Razzy, can I have $23 billion?

[Guy Raz]

Unfortunately, not even in your dreams.

[Mindy Thomas]

Poker balls. So what's next, dream Guy? Raz?

[Guy Raz]

Well, let's go check out that Orion spacecraft we saw in the commercial.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait, we're gonna go see the Orion spacecraft?

[Guy Raz]

Yep.

[Listener Callers]

Yes.

[Guy Raz]

Here we are.

[Mindy Thomas]

You gotta warn me next time, man. What's that thing?

[Guy Raz]

Why, it's the Orion spacecraft. Its job will be to carry astronauts from Earth's orbit to lunar orbit, or moon orbit and back.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, like an outer space getaway car?

[Guy Raz]

Well, something like that. I should also mention that previous spacecrafts were typically used once. But the Orion spacecraft is different.

[Mindy Thomas]

It's different how?

[Guy Raz]

Well, the Orion spacecraft is partially reusable.

[Mindy Thomas]

Reusable?

[Guy Raz]

That's right, partially reusable.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait, so astronauts can ride in the Orion spacecraft to the moon and back to Earth again. And then other astronauts can ride in it after they're done with their trip. And the Orion isn't going to wind up as just another piece of space junk orbiting around outer space?

[Guy Raz]

That's the idea. The Artemis program plans to send more than a few humans back and forth to the moon.

[Mindy Thomas]

Really?

[Guy Raz]

Yes. In fact, the third mission, Artemis 3, intends to see two astronauts land on the surface of the moon.

[Mindy Thomas]

And what are these astronauts going to do while they're on the moon?

[Guy Raz]

Well, you're just full of great questions, Dream Indy.

[Dennis]

Hold on.

[Mindy Thomas]

Poof.

[Dennis]

Whoa.

[Mindy Thomas]

What is this place?

[Guy Raz]

It's the moon. We're on the lunar surface.

[Mindy Thomas]

We're on the moon, Dream Reggie. We're on the moon. Why is it so dark?

[Guy Raz]

That's because we're on the lunar south pole of the moon, Dream Mindy. It's the southernmost point on the moon. And it's dark because it's lunar night. And were on the far side of the moon, tilted away from the sun. I should mention that lunar nights last for 14 Earth days.

[Reggie]

Whoa.

[Mindy Thomas]

That would be like getting up to 336 hours of sleep. Imagine all the weird dreams you could have in that time.

[Guy Raz]

And I'd be happy to guide you through every one of them.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wait, Dream Guy. Raz. Reggie, look over there. It looks like there's some sort of little alien neighborhood on the moon.

[Dennis]

Aha. I knew there were aliens on the moon.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, Dennis, where'd you come from?

[Guy Raz]

Don't pay any attention to him. That's just dream Dennis.

[Dennis]

Hey, you aliens, quit shining so much light down on earth. We're trying to sleep.

[Guy Raz]

They're not aliens, dream Dennis.

[Dennis]

That's just what they want you to think. Dream Guy Raz.

[Mindy Thomas]

They're not aliens.

[Guy Raz]

Nope. That little neighborhood looking thing is the Artemis Base Camp.

[Mindy Thomas]

A camp? There's camping on the moon?

[Guy Raz]

Yep, kind of. The Artemis Base Camp gives the NASA astronauts a place to live and work on the moon. See, there's a lunar cabin, a rover, and even a mobile home.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow. A mobile home for moon road trips.

[Guy Raz]

Yes, I suppose. Except there aren't any roads.

[Reggie]

Look at me, half flying.

[Mindy Thomas]

Is that Thomas Fingerling coming in for landing?

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yes, that's Dream Thomas Fingerling.

[Mindy Thomas]

Huh? I guess you can launch yourself to the moon with toots.

[Reggie]

Hey there, Dream Guy Rousey. You seen Dreamforce around here?

[Guy Raz]

No, why?

[Reggie]

Well, she's around here somewhere trying to turn off the moonlight again.

[Mindy Thomas]

Now where's that light switch? I know it's around here somewhere.

[Reggie]

Oh, there she is. Gotta go up, up and away.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh, that stinks.

[Guy Raz]

True, but it is a great way to get around.

[Reggie]

Excuse me.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ugh. So, Dream Guy Raz, is it going to be a problem for the astronauts on the base camp if Grandma GeForce turns off the moonlight?

[Guy Raz]

It should be fine, but she wouldn't want to turn off the. You see, continuous sunlight is needed to power the base camp and to help with the extreme temperature swings here. But that's only needed at the high points of elevation here on the moon.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, gotcha. I'm turning off the moon.

[Guy Raz]

But these astronauts also need access to areas of complete darkness because those areas hold a very important and very valuable natural resource.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ooh. What is it, dream Guy Raz?

[Guy Raz]

Water.

[Mindy Thomas]

Water? That doesn't sound very exciting, Dream Guy Raz.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, but on the moon it is, dream Mindy. And a lot of the time it is found in the darkest parts of the moon's surface. Parts that never see sun. Parts that are cold enough to freeze water into ice.

[Dennis]

Moon water.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. Moon water. Wow. This dark area of the moon contains something called cold traps. Cold traps that may hold water and ice left behind from comets and meteorites.

[Mindy Thomas]

And then the astronauts can gather the ice and water from these cold traps and use that water instead of having to bring up a bunch of water from the earth.

[Guy Raz]

That's the idea.

[Dennis]

This Is amazing.

[Mindy Thomas]

It really is. Like camping on the moon.

[Guy Raz]

It is.

[Mindy Thomas]

So, Dream Guy Raz, why exactly is NASA doing all of this? I mean, why are they going moon camping? What do they hope to accomplish?

[Guy Raz]

Well, Dream Indy, I guess you could say it's practice.

[Mindy Thomas]

Practice? Practice for what?

[Guy Raz]

Practice for Mars. Mars?

[Mindy Thomas]

We're going camping on Mars? Man, this dream is getting so weird.

[Guy Raz]

Well, soon this dream will be a reality, Mindy. NASA wants to set up a permanent base or camp right here on the moon in order to test new technologies and practice how to survive in outer space.

[Mindy Thomas]

Huh. Kind of like camping in your backyard before going off on a trip into the wilderness.

[Guy Raz]

Exactly. The Artemis program wants a permanent move so they can get better at space exploration.

[Mindy Thomas]

Found it.

[Dennis]

Grab a Dream Force. I'm scared. Turn the moonlight back on.

[Mindy Thomas]

No. Wow. It really is dark on the moon.

[Reggie]

I can't see where I'm going.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, and cold.

[Mindy Thomas]

Dream Guy Raz, I think it's time to get back to Earth. Reggie, no. We're not from Kansas.

[Guy Raz]

No problem, Dream Indy. If you want to go home, all you have to do is click your heels together three times and say, there's no place like Earth.

[Mindy Thomas]

Okay. One, two, three. There's no place like Earth. There's no place like Earth. There's no place like Earth. Uh, Dream Guy Raz? Nothing's happening.

[Guy Raz]

I'm just kidding. All you have to do is wake up. Mindy. Wake up, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

What?

[Guy Raz]

Wake up, Mindy. Wake up. Wake up, Mindy. Wake up, Mindy. Wake up, Mindy.

[Mindy Thomas]

What? Huh? Regular old Guy Raz. Is that you?

[Guy Raz]

I mean, I don't think I like being called regular old, but yeah, it's me, Guy Raz.

[Reggie]

Ugh.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, man, I just had the wildest dream.

[Guy Raz]

Oh, yeah?

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah. You were there, and Reggie was there, and Dennis and Thomas Fingerling and Grandma G Force were there.

[Dennis]

Was I the Dennis of your dreams, Mindy?

[Commercial Voice]

And me?

[Mindy Thomas]

I told you I'd see you in your nightmares. No, listen. I was on the moon, and NASA had sent astronauts to build a permanent moon base camp.

[Guy Raz]

Wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

Well, and there was a little lunar cabin and a little lunar rover and a lunar motor home, and little astronauts were living and working there.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, Mindy, that's because.

[Mindy Thomas]

And they built a spacecraft, Guy Raz. It was called the Orion, and it would shuttle astronauts back and forth from the Earth to the moon and then back again. And then it would be launched from the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built. Oh, sounds fantastic.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, will you jump?

[Mindy Thomas]

Moon base is like a backyard camping trip. And they're on the South Pole and they're gonna try to harvest moon water and practice to go to Mars.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, that's all real.

[Dennis]

What?

[Mindy Thomas]

It is? Nuh.

[Guy Raz]

Yes it is. NASA's really doing all of the things you just said.

[Mindy Thomas]

But what about Thomas Fingerling flying around with his toots and Grandma GeForce turning off the moonlight?

[Guy Raz]

Uh, well, that part sounds like it was just a dream.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, well, humph.

[Guy Raz]

But all the things you were talking about are part of the Artemis program.

[Mindy Thomas]

Yeah, Artemis? How'd you know that? Are you sure you're not dream guy Raz?

[Guy Raz]

Dream guy Raz? No, no, Mindy. I'm just regular old.

[Dennis]

Ouch.

[Guy Raz]

Mindy, don't pinch me.

[Mindy Thomas]

I just needed to make sure you're real and I'm not dreaming.

[Guy Raz]

You're real. I'm real. I'm not dreaming. Neither are you. The Artemis program is real. And it's already begun. Artemis 1 launched on 11-16-20.

[Mindy Thomas]

It did. So there are humans on the moon right now?

[Guy Raz]

Well, not quite yet. Artemis 1 was an uncrewed moon orbiting and return mission.

[Mindy Thomas]

Ah, which means that NASA launched the rocket without any people on board. Kind of like a flight test.

[Guy Raz]

Yes, exactly like a flight test.

[Mindy Thomas]

Got it.

[Guy Raz]

Artemis missions 2 and 3 will have real astronauts on board and are currently scheduled for launch in 2025 and 2026.

[Mindy Thomas]

Wow. I can't believe my dream was real, Guy.

[Guy Raz]

Well, it sounds like it wasn't quite real yet. And I would hope Thomas Fingerling flying around on his own toots will never be real.

[Reggie]

Aw, come on, fella. Oop.

[Guy Raz]

Pardon me, but if everything goes according to plan, NASA will successfully put a permanent base camp on the moon.

[Mindy Thomas]

And drink moon water.

[Guy Raz]

Yeah, and drink moon water.

[Mindy Thomas]

This is so bonker balls.

[Dennis]

Would you two quit talking about moon water? It's making me have to go to the bathroom.

[Mindy Thomas]

Just go inside, Denn.

[Dennis]

Ah, but I'm all warm and toasty in my sleeping bag. Reggie, carry me inside, please. Reggie, please. You'll be like the Orion spacecraft and I'll be Spaceman Dennis.

[Guy Raz]

Dennis.

[Dennis]

Carry me back to Earth, Reggie. So I can go potty and check my email. Hooray. Back to Earth. Back to Earth.

[Mindy Thomas]

Bye, Dennis. We're just gonna stay out here on the moon little while longer and dream about tomorrow. Wow. In the world. We'll be right back, grown ups. This message is for you.

[Sponsor Voice]

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[Mindy Thomas]

Hey Wowzer Fams. Mindy here. And before we start the show. Oh, sorry about that. I forgot to put it on silent. Hey, wait a second. It's an email from us. Check it out, Reg. Let's see here. It says we've got episode recommendations, free STEM activities to try out at home. The latest news about what's happening at Tinkercast. Pretty bonker balls, huh? Here, I'll help you sign up so you and the grown ups will be just go to tinkercast.comemail and put in your first and last names and email address. Wait, Reggie, I just realized I don't know your last name. Really? Is that with a silent G or a silent Q?

[Dennis]

Huh?

[Mindy Thomas]

Who knew? Let's see here. Oh, and you're not a robot, right? Sorry, just had to double check. Okay, you are all signed up grown ups. You can sign up for our Tinkercast newsletter too. It's full of ideas on how to get some extra wow to your family's life. Visit tinkercast.comemail to sign up today. That's tinkercast.comemail. that's it. And now let's get on with the show.

[Guy Raz]

Hey, Wowzer fams Guy, Raz and Mindy here. And before we start the show, Happy

[Mindy Thomas]

Earth Day to you.

[Guy Raz]

Happy Earth Day to you. Happy Earth Day, dear Wowzers.

[Mindy Thomas]

Happy Earth Day to you.

[Guy Raz]

If you're looking for ways to celebrate our Earth today and every day, visit tinkercast.comearth to find activities, episodes and videos that bring the wows of the world right to you.

[Mindy Thomas]

And while you're at it, don't forget to show your gratitude to the Earth today. It does a pretty good job of taking care of all of us, so let's all remember to take care of it too.

[Guy Raz]

That's it. Now let's get back to the show.

[Mindy Thomas]

That's it back to the show. Wow in the World. Hi, thanks for calling wow in the World. After the beep, get ready to record.

[Listener Callers]

Hi, Mindy and Guy Rav. My name is Nia and I live in New Palt, New York. And my wow in the world is that jellyfish have no heart and octopuses have three of them. Say hi to Raggy. I'm Indian Guy Raz. My name is Alexander and I live in Washington, dc. My wound the world is that a hippopotamus may seem slow, but it can still run faster than a human. Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name's Elizabeth. And my name's Sarah. We live in Columbia, Missouri. And our wow in the world is some bats can eat more than half their body weight in insects every day. Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz. My name is Oliver, I'm seven years old and I live in Washington, D.C. my wow is that animal poop can be turned into electricity. Say hi to Thomas Fingerling for me.

[Reggie]

Sup?

[Listener Callers]

Hi, Mindy and Guy Ross. This is Lily from Chesterfield, Massachusetts. And my wow in the world is that chickens are the most common bird on earth. Say hi to Reggie, Dennis.

[Dennis]

Hi.

[Listener Callers]

And Grandma G Force for me.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, snap.

[Listener Callers]

Bye. Hi. My date, Guy Raz. My name is Jack and I'm from Navarre, Florida. I'm nine years old, and my wow in the world is that play DOH was originally used to remove stains from wool. Isn't that bonkerballs? Hello. My name is Hallelujah. I live in Boise, Idaho. My wow in the world is that Earth is the most dense planet in the solar system.

[Mindy Thomas]

Hi, Mindy.

[Listener Callers]

Hi, Guy Raz. My name is Owen and I'm from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. My wow in the world is that hyenas poop is white because they eat bones.

[Mindy Thomas]

Bye.

[Listener Callers]

Hi. My name is Caroline and I'm from Mountain View, California. My wow is that snails have between 1,000 and 12,000 tiny teeth on their tongue called ratula. Say hi to Grandma G Force, Reggie and Dennis for me.

[Mindy Thomas]

Oh, yay.

[Dennis]

Huzzah.

[Mindy Thomas]

End of messages.

[Guy Raz]

Wow in the World is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalken with help from me, Guy Ra.

[Mindy Thomas]

Design and music editing is done by Tyler Thole with help from our supervising producer, Jed Anderson. You can also hear Jed Anderson in the voices of Dennis, Thomas, Fingerling, Reggie, and many of the other silly characters that you hear on our show. And Lizzie Freilich can also be heard as some of the silly characters on our show.

[Guy Raz]

Jessica Bode keeps our facts straight as our fact checker and Meredith Halpern Ranzer powers the wow.

[Mindy Thomas]

And at Tinkercast our theme song was composed and performed by three time Grammy nominees the Pop Ups. Find them at thepopups.com Special thanks to

[Guy Raz]

Kit Ballinger, Rebecca Caban, Dr. Natasha Crandall, Kenny Curtis, Kristin Yang, Thuy Mac, Erica Medina, Henry Moskal, Jodi Nussbaum, Ali Paksima, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Joanna Weber, Anna Zagorski and all of the other Tinkerers at Tinkercast hq.

[Mindy Thomas]

And to keep the WOW rolling after after you've finished this episode, Visit [e-mail] There you can become a member of the World Organization of Wowzers to get year round mailings and weekly activities. Shop our wow. Shop, get tickets for upcoming events, find our best selling books and learn about some of the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast Grown Ups.

[Guy Raz]

You can follow wow in the World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @wowintheworld. And our email address is helloinkercast.com and

[Mindy Thomas]

if you're a kid with a big wow to share with us, call us at 1-888-7-WOW wow for a chance to be featured at the end of our show or an upcoming episode of 2 what's in a wow?

[Guy Raz]

Thanks again for listening. We're here every Monday or you can check out two what's and a wow every Friday right here in the wow in the World podcast feed.

[Mindy Thomas]

And don't forget we wow on the weekend Weekend with Dennis Saturday and Sunday. Keep on wowing. Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.