This Week in Space (Audio)

Many suggest there is a new space race afoot, this time between the US and China. We've also know that America seems to be at its best in innovation and achievement when challenged by some external force. Will the Chinese human lunar program light the fuse of American innovation and accomplishment when it comes to our lagging lunar program and other spaceflight initiatives? Dr. Namrata Goswami of Johns Hopkins University joins us to examine the intricacies of potential threats to American leadership in space and the possible outcomes. Who will be first to land astronauts on the moon? Does it really matter? Who controls what regions of the moon? Will cislunar space be contested between major space powers? This and much more in this episode of This Week in Space. Headlines: Artemis 2 Mission Nears Launch, Astronauts Arrive at Kennedy Space Center Stunning New Images of Saturn Released from Webb and Hubble Telescopes "For All Mankind" Renewed for Sixth and Final Season Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Clears Vibration Test, Launch Date Set Main Topic: U.S.-China Competition and Global Ambitions in Space Dr. Namrata Goswami Explains the Evolution of the New Space Race China's Strategic, Economic, and Cultural Goals for Lunar Exploration Comparison of U.S. and Chinese Approaches to Public Messaging and Program Identity The Role of the Artemis Accords vs. China's International Lunar Research Station Partnerships The Legal and Political Implications of Lunar Safety and Exclusion Zones Space Force's Emerging Role in Cislunar Security and Commerce Increasing Global Participation: India, Japan, and Developing Nations Expand Space Competition Impact of Lunar "Real Estate" and Resource Maps on International Strategies Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Namrata Goswami Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Mike Wall, Space.com spaceflight editor and veteran space journalist, gives an Artemis II launch status update. He explains why the rocket rolled back to LC-39B, the decision to skip another wet dress rehearsal, and the upcoming April launch windows. Brief comparisons to Apollo, solar radiation risks, lander readiness debates, Gateway uncertainty, and what to watch in the final prelaunch checks are also covered.

Jay Gallentine, author of deep histories of robotic planetary exploration, talks about his book Born to Explore and the life of JPL legend John Casani. Short stories cover Casani’s team-building goat contest, his Jesuit-rooted leadership, Galileo’s constant redesigns, and tough tradeoffs on Cassini. Also a sneak peek at Gallentine’s upcoming Mars rovers book.

A lively listener special full of jokes, limericks, and playful banter woven with audience messages. Brief news rundowns touch on Artemis program shifts, a safe asteroid flyby of the Moon, NASA’s new hiring push, and a troubling MAVEN anomaly. Conversation ranges from lunar eclipses and Apollo proof to debates on Mars cooperation and funny space anecdotes.

Pascal Lee, planetary scientist and director of the Haughton‑Mars Project, discusses Mars analog fieldwork and planning for human missions. He talks about the National Academies' Mars priorities, the search for life as top science, planetary protection vs. exploring water‑rich sites, the case for a Mars surface lab, and how advancing AI and humanoid robots could change who does exploration.

One of the most exciting missions to ever journey to the outer solar system has the be the Dragonfly multi-rotor helicopter that will head to Saturn's moon Titan in 2028. The car-sized probe will arrive at that strange, frozen world in 2034, descending into the soupy, smoggy atmosphere and then taking flight before it even touches the ground! We spoke with the mission's Principal Investigator, Dr. Elizabeth "Zibi" Turtle, about the mission's origins, current progress, and what to expect in the coming years. She also took us through a narrated tour of the surface of Titan, with its hydrocarbon sand dunes and methane seas. The Dragonfly mission will be an adventure of a lifetime! Headlines: NASA's Artemis II Moon Rocket Aces New Fueling Test Boeing Starliner is Rated a "Type A" Mishap and Faces More Launch Delays Perseverance Rover Gets Instant Mars GPS-like Functionality Main Topic: NASA's Dragonfly Mission to Titan Dr. Elizabeth Turtle explains Dragonfly's origins and mission concept Why Titan is unique and somewhat akin to the primordial Earth, perfect for exploring prebiotic chemistry Dragonfly's advanced science suite and autonomous flying capability Insights from the Cassini/Huygens missions and how they are shaping Dragonfly Navigation, flight strategy, and safety planning for Titan's harsh environment Power, heating, and longevity on Titan's freezing surface Titan's dune landscape, flying conditions, and analogs to Earth Big scientific questions: methane cycle, atmospheric mysteries, and potential surprises Mission timeline, lander design, and the innovative "fly-as-you-land" arrival approach Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik Guest: Dr. Elizabeth Turtle Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit

Aarti Holla-Maini, director of UNOOSA, leads international space cooperation and capacity building. Rick Jenet, National Space Society rep to the UN, works on space policy and advocacy. They discuss UNOOSA's role in space governance. Topics include sustainability and debris, space traffic and data sharing, lunar resource transparency, and engaging commercial actors while keeping state authority.

Dr. Scott Solomon, an evolutionary biologist and Rice University professor who wrote Becoming Martian, explores how humans might biologically and culturally change living on Mars. He discusses unknowns about reproduction and development in partial gravity. He examines moving Earth’s ecosystems off-world, founder effects and genetic diversity, and whether to modify humans or habitats.

Gerry Griffin, former Apollo flight director and long-time Johnson Space Center leader, offers firsthand memories of Apollo 1, Challenger, and Columbia. He recounts being on-console during the Apollo 1 fire. He explains technical causes and program changes after each tragedy. He reflects on how NASA teams rebuilt safety culture and offers perspective for today’s flight directors as Artemis approaches.

Ely Sandler, a Harvard Kennedy School fellow working on energy policy, climate finance, and space governance, proposes updating 1967 space rules. He discusses using a Conference of Parties model to iteratively tighten treaty terms. Conversations cover orbital debris and collision risk, property and resource use on the Moon, militarization and transparency, and regulatory hurdles for space solar power.