NASA Returns To The Moon (And Beyond)

On April 2, 2026, NASA embarked on its first crewed lunar mission in over half a century. The Artemis II initiative will span approximately 10 days, propelling astronauts farther into space than any previous crewed venture. Although the four-member team will not make a lunar landing, their orbital journey around the Moon aims to lay the groundwork for future missions that could see humans return to the surface for the first time since the 1970s.

Podcast Hosts Discuss the Mission

Adam Fleming is joined by space scientist Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock and astronaut Tim Peake to explore the significance of Artemis II through the podcast 13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II.

Listeners can now access Newscast via smart speakers by saying “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast.” This feature is compatible with most voice-activated devices. To engage with the community, visit https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord. For inquiries, email newscast@bbc.co.uk or message via WhatsApp at +44 0330 123 9480. New episodes are released daily.

For UK audiences, BBC Sounds offers a range of News and Current Affairs podcasts at https://bbc.in/4guXgXd. Newscast delivers daily insights into the latest political developments from the BBC. The episode was presented by Adam Fleming, produced by Jack Maclaren and Shiler Mahmoudi, with social media coordination by Gabriel Purcell-Davis and technical support from Mike Regaard. Chris Gray served as the assistant editor, while Sam Bonham was the senior news editor.