On April 1, four NASA astronauts embarked on Artemis II, venturing deeper into space than any human has gone before. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen became the first humans to circumnavigate the Moon since 1972. They conducted a historic lunar fly-by and witnessed a total solar eclipse from their spacecraft.
Unveiling the Artemis II Mission
A new Horizon Special offers an exclusive look into the Artemis II mission. Filmed over three and a half years at NASA, the BBC World Service’s ’13 Minutes Presents: Artemis’ features new episodes on the mission to loop around the Moon. You can stay updated with all the latest developments from the mission on the BBC News website.
Artemis: To the Moon and Back
Watch on BBC iPlayer from Wednesday, April 15.
For the past three and a half years, this Horizon Special has been granted privileged access inside NASA to chronicle the mission of these four astronauts. We hear directly from astronauts, engineers, technicians, and mission directors, exploring the immense effort required to launch a moonshot in the 21st Century. The program also features insights from prominent figures in space science and research, including Dame Dr. Maggie Aderin and British astronaut Tim Peake. Both are also co-hosting the BBC World Service Podcast, ’13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II’, alongside US space scientist Kristin Fisher.
The Ambitious Goal: A Permanent Lunar Presence
The ultimate objective for the Artemis program is to establish a permanent human presence on the lunar surface, enabling astronauts to live and work there for weeks at a time. This hugely ambitious endeavor is fraught with danger and comes at a significant cost; the Artemis program has spent $93 billion to date.
We follow NASA’s engineers as they tackle the challenges of re-using existing rocket technology and adapting to a faulty heatshield design. Any misstep could lead to catastrophic consequences for the astronauts on board. Concurrently, China’s National Space Administration is also targeting similar lunar regions as NASA, signaling the start of a new 21st-century space race.
Is this the dawn of a brave new era of exploration?
Broadcast Details
Artemis: To the Moon and Back – Wednesday, April 15 at 8 PM on BBC Two and iPlayer.
13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II – A new episode each day of the mission.
The story of Artemis II was narrated by space scientist Maggie Aderin and British astronaut Tim Peake. They are joined by expert contributors, US space journalist Kristin Fisher and BBC News Science Editor Rebecca Morelle.
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