The Daily Aus NASA's plan to send humans to Mars
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Apr 6, 2026 They walk through Artemis and the Orion test flight that will push humans farther into space than before. They discuss life in orbit, experiments on astronauts and the view of Earth from space. They cover plans for a lunar landing, using moon resources to build lasting infrastructure, and NASA’s tentative timeline for reaching Mars in the 2030s.
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Artemis Is A Step Toward Mars
- Artemis is the name of NASA's program to send humans back to the moon as a stepping stone to Mars.
- Artemis II is an orbital test of the Orion spacecraft to validate systems before planned landings like Artemis 3 and Artemis 4.
Artemis II Is A Long Orbital Test Flight
- Artemis II will travel about a million kilometres round trip and peak about 400,000 km from Earth, farther than any human has gone.
- The mission is a 10-day journey focused on orbiting the moon rather than landing to thoroughly test Orion.
Life On Orion Feels Cramped And Floating
- Astronauts are conducting experiments and physiological tests in microgravity to assess bodies and systems.
- Hosts described press conferences from space showing floating microphones and cramped cabins, highlighting close quarters and daily life.