Why is Nasa sending people around the moon?

BBC Inside Science

BBC

Science

4.6 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 15 January 2026

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The space science world is buzzing. In the next few days, NASA is expected to begin the rollout of its Artemis II rocket to the launch pad with the launch itself expected as early as February. Science journalist Jonathan Amos explains why NASA is interested in travelling around the moon now? And what we will learn from sending humans further into space than ever before.

Penny Sarchet, Managing Editor at New Scientist brings Tom Whipple her pick of the best new science this week.

And why are scientists shipping ice cores from around the world to a frozen cave in Antarctica? Dr Liz Thomas, head of ice core research at the British Antarctic Survey explains the science behind the Ice Memory Sanctuary as it officially opens.

To discover more fascinating science content, head to bbc.co.uk, search for BBC Inside Science and follow the links to The Open University.

Presenter: Tom Whipple Producer: Kate White, Katie Tomsett, Tim Dodd and Clare Salisbury Editor: Martin Smith Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	BBC Sounds, Music, Radio Podcasts.
0:05.7	Hello, you're about to listen to a BBC podcast, and I'm Ed Gamble, host of another BBC podcast, The Traitors Uncloaked.
0:12.7	But my show is available only on BBC Sounds, just like Ellis and John's Saturday bonus episodes,
0:18.2	The Pop Top Ten podcast with Scott Mills and Rylan, and comedy specials
0:22.2	from the likes of Harriet Kemsley, Susie Ruffle and Rommashranganathan. However, and maybe I'm biased,
0:27.9	it's really all about the traitors uncoaked. So for a whole bunch of exclusive scoops and
0:32.6	podcasts, listen only on BBC Sounds. Hello, I'm Tom Whipple and this is Inside Science.
0:39.1	Half a century after the crew of Apollo 8 were the first to see the Earth rising over the moon's surface.
0:46.3	Humans on Artemis too are going to loop around our planet's natural satellite again and see another Earthrise.
0:53.2	But why?
0:56.6	And looking further into space, what have Beetlejuice's natural satellite? We consider the growing evidence that this really big star
1:02.4	is orbited by a small star and is going to munch it up. Then, coming back to Earth, we explore
1:09.2	an Antarctic ice sanctuary containing a little bit of Montblon.
1:13.7	Also on Inside Science to talk through the latest science news, we have Penny Sarshe from the new scientist.
1:19.8	G-manus, 15 seconds, guidance is internal.
1:23.4	12, 11, 10, 9, ignition sequence start.
1:29.6	6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, all engine running.
1:38.1	Lift-off, we have a liftoff, 32 minutes, past the hour.
1:42.5	Lift-off on Apollo 11.
1:44.4	In 1972, Jean Sernan stood in the magnificent desolation of the moon and said goodbye.
1:53.1	America's challenge of today, the Apollo astronaut said, has forged man's destiny of tomorrow.
2:03.9	Then he stepped into the lunar module, shook the dust off his boots, and humans left the moon. Well, that destiny of tomorrow has been a long time coming,
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.