This Week in Space (Video)

It's almost time for Artemis II to fly to the moon! We got together with Space.com writer Josh Dinner, who joined our own Tariq to attend the "astro unveiling" of NASA's newest class of astronauts and a major press event surrounding the crew of Artemis II. The mission is currently scheduled to loop the moon in early 2026. Join us for the newest details!

Headlines:

• NASA's Escapade Mission Gears Up for Mars Launch

• Rocket Lab Prepares for First Interplanetary Mission

• Dream Chaser Space Plane's ISS Debut Delayed, Contract Adjustments Announced

• Simulated Universe Creates 3.4 Billion Digital Galaxies

• Reflections on the Evolution of Space Missions—From Apollo to Artemis



Main Topic: Artemis II Updates and NASA's Next Generation Astronauts

• Our Reporters Go Behind the Scenes at Johnson Space Center

• Artemis II Launch Windows Announced for Feb-April 2026

• Overview of Artemis II Crew and Their Spaceflight Experience

• Mission Profile: Free Return Trajectory, Timeline, and Unique Features

• Naming of Orion Capsule as "Integrity"

• NASA Preps for Extensive, Real-time Media Coverage During Artemis II

• Discussion of Public Enthusiasm and Challenges for Engaging a Modern Audience

• Artemis II Crew Details, Training, and Scientific Goals

• Addressing Orion Heat Shield Issues and Design Updates

• Training for Artemis III: Simulating Lunar Gravity and EVA Preparation

• NASA Unveils New Astronaut Class with Diverse Backgrounds

• Discussion of Astronaut Demographics, Public Messaging, and International Partners

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Josh Dinner

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There's a very elite club in astronaut circles, one in which former astronauts go on to political careers. The most elite are senators, and so far, John Glenn, Harrison Schmitt, and Mark Kelly have been members, and may soon be joined by Terry Virts, a former shuttle and ISS astronaut. He's got a lot to say about today's NASA, the budget, the Artemis program (he was the astronaut embedded with the SLS rocket program back in 2011), and much more. Col. Virts is also an author and filmmaker, among his other pursuits. Join us for the enlightening episode.

Headlines:

• Ukraine Destroys Russian Military-Used Radio Telescope in Crimea

• China's Surge in Spaceflight Triggers New Warnings About U.S. Competitiveness

• Stunning New Black Hole Images Revealed by Event Horizon Telescope

• Partial Solar Eclipse Coming, Visible Most Spectacularly to Penguins

Main Topic: Interview with Colonel Terry Virts—Astronaut and Senate Candidate

• Highlights of Terry Virts' Career: Air Force, Shuttle & Soyuz Missions, Space Station Command

• Motivation Behind Virts' Run for U.S. Senate in Texas

• Threats to American Democracy, Middle-Class Issues, and Human Rights Priorities

• How Astronaut and Military Experience Prepares Him for Political Office

• Views on the U.S. Space Program: Budget Cuts, Program Delays, and China's Lunar Ambitions

• Specific Critiques of Artemis, SLS, and Lunar Lander Strategies

• Advice for Aspiring Astronauts and Reflections on NASA's Challenges

• The ISS at 25: Collaboration, Science Achievements, and Personal Lessons Learned

• Space, Star Trek, and Geek Culture Moments from Virts' NASA Years

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Terry Virts

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You've heard the news about a possible detection of ancient life on Mars... now get the inside scoop from one of the paper's key authors. Dr. Michael Tice is a research scientist and planetary geologist at Texas A&M, and has a lot to say about how the research was pulled from the year-old drill sampling, the incredible rigor that was applied to their findings, and what's next in this amazing story. It's the one we've all been waiting for--a possible indication of life beyond our own planet!



Headlines:

NASA's Interim Chief Declares Mission to Beat China Back to the Moon

Starlink Satellite Photobombs Maxar Image of Secret Chinese Airbase

James Webb Telescope Captures Stunning Interstellar Jet "Flatulence"

Main Topic: Signs of Ancient Life Discovered on Mars by Perseverance

Dr. Michael Tice Explains Potential Biosignatures in Jezero Crater

Discovery of Unusual "Leopard Spots" Linked to Possible Microbial Activity

Redox Reactions and Organics Suggest Favorable Conditions for Life

Debate Between Biological and Abiotic Explanations for Findings

Cutting-Edge Rover Instruments Push Detection Limits

Challenges of Confirming Life Without Sample Return to Earth

Future Work Needed: Sample Return Missions and Analogs on Earth

Broader Reflections on Mars Science, Search for Life, and Technology Choices

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Michael Tice

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What's next in deep space exploration? Dr. Alan Stern, planetary scientist and the Principal Investigator for the New Horizons mission to Pluto, joins us to discuss what we learned about Pluto, the prospects for a future Pluto orbiter, the news from the Kuiper Belt, and to talk about his experiences as a commercial suborbital astronaut. Oh, and he might just mention that he was short-listed to fly on the space shuttle! Alan is one of those people that just has one adventure after another... did I mention that he dove on the Titanic? Yeah, that kind of guy. Join us for an hour of deep space adventure.



Headlines:

U.S. Faces Warnings of Losing Lunar Race to China

NASA Selects a New Associate Administrator

Third Interstellar Comet Spotted With Unusual CO2 Cloud

Main Topic: Pluto, the New Horizons Mission, and the Future of Planetary Exploration

Why Pluto Was Chosen as a Prime Target for Exploration

Building and Launching New Horizons: Team Effort and Challenges

Emotional Moments as Pluto Data Arrived on Earth

Precise Navigation: Getting New Horizons Safely to Pluto

Pluto's Surprising Geological Activity and Complexity

Major Discoveries at Pluto's Moon Charon

Exploring Arrokoth: Insights into Planetary Formation

The Search for a Possible Third Flyby Target in the Kuiper Belt

The Importance of Long-Term Funding for New Horizons

NASA Budget Threats Could End Multiple Key Space Missions

The Possible Role of Kuiper Belt Objects in Delivering Organics to Earth

How Flybys at Pluto and Arrokoth Reshaped Theories of Planetary Systems

Prospects for Future Pluto Orbiters and Human Spaceflight

Advocacy for Continued U.S. Leadership in Deep Space Exploration

Host: Rod Pyle

Co-Host: Fredrick (Rick) Jenet

Guest: Alan Stern

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So you're on a months-long flight to Mars... seven months with five people and one computer as crewmates. You've been told to put any fears of a HAL-9000 computer takeover of your mission out of your mind, but can you, really? In this episode, Dr. Daniel Selva of Texas A&M joins us to talk about his recent study of crew interactions and trust with AI using, well, computers, and the HERA habitat simulator at NASA's Johnson Space Center. The results were not entirely as expected! Join us for this fascinating look at crew-AI interaction in spaceflight procedures and emergencies.



Headlines:

SpaceX Starship Flight 10 Nails Test Milestones, Despite Some Reentry Damage

Simulated Satellite Deployments and Heat Shield Experiments Show Progress for Starship

SETI's 1977 "Wow Signal" Mystery Gets Closer to Natural Explanation

China Prepares for 2030 Moon Landing with New Hardware Tests, Spurs US Lunar Competition

Main Topic: AI Helpers for Diagnosing Space Emergencies (Interview with Dr. Daniel Selva)

Dr. Selva's Background and Journey from Europe to Texas A&M and Space AI Research

Using AI Agents to Assist Astronauts During Long-Duration, Deep Space Missions

Details of the DAPHNE Virtual Assistant Study: Lab and NASA Analog Experiments

Surprising Results: AI Shows Big Benefits in Lab, Mixed Results with Experienced Crews

Individual Differences: Experience, Trust, and Task Complexity Influence AI Effectiveness

Real-World Limitations: Emergency Charts vs. AI, Training, and Interface Design Challenges

Broader Implications: Evolving AI to Assist Mission Control, Crew Autonomy, and Future Tech

Fun Sci-Fi Comparisons: Favorite AI Assistants in Movies and the Reality of Human-AI Collaboration

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Daniel Selva

Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.

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