The Naked Scientists Podcast Artemis II launch, and tackling physical inactivity
Apr 3, 2026
Richard Hollingham, a science reporter who witnessed the Artemis II liftoff up close. Paulo de Coppe, a surgeon engineering lab-grown oesophagi. Deb Salvo, a public health researcher tackling physical inactivity. Brett Kagan, a neuroscientist building brain-on-a-chip systems. They describe the launch sensations, a pig-to-pig oesophagus transplant, policies to boost everyday activity, and living neurons learning to play video games.
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Artemis II Is A Shakedown Loop Around The Moon
- Artemis II is a test flight: crew will perform translunar injection to loop around the Moon then return without lunar orbit, using an ESA service module for life support.
- Early mission days are busy and troubleshooting-heavy, with only a four-hour sleep window, testing heating and toilet systems.
Let Automation Run Routine Phases And Manual Fly When Needed
- Astronauts can take near-full manual control of Orion but most procedures are pre-programmed and uploaded from mission control.
- Pilots like Reid Wiseman and Victor Glover expect to hand-fly segments, but computers and automation reduce fatigue.
Mission Success Hinges On Safe Splashdown Recovery
- If everything works, Artemis II will carry humans to the furthest distance from Earth ever achieved and return via a Pacific Ocean splashdown.
- NASA will only call the mission successful once parachutes deploy and crew are recovered on the ship.