The Naked Scientists Podcast Return to the Moon
Mar 24, 2026
Robert Massey, astronomer at the Royal Astronomical Society, outlines habitat hazards and scientific value. David Whitehouse, science writer and former BBC correspondent, covers technical and programmatic hurdles and launch strategies. Megan Argo, astrophysics reader and podcaster, explains reasons to return, staging for Mars, and challenges of living and growing food on the Moon.
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Moon As A Staging Post For Deep Space
- The new lunar race centres on resources, water and using the Moon as a staging post for deeper space missions.
- Megan Argo explains extracting lunar water could supply astronauts and be made into rocket fuel, lowering resupply costs from Earth.
Sharp Dust And Long Lunar Nights Create Big Risks
- Lunar environment poses unique engineering challenges: two-week day/night cycles, extreme temperatures, sharp electrostatic dust and radiation.
- Megan Argo details how dust abrades suits, clogs seals and damages electronics due to lack of weathering and electrostatic charging.
Prioritise Frequent Low‑Cost Launches
- NASA must simplify and increase launch cadence to make lunar return viable rather than rely on rare, costly SLS launches.
- David Whitehouse argues frequent launches (like 1960s Gemini) enable iterative progress and expose faults early.