Breakfast Wrap: Humans go further into space than ever before

This episode of Radio National Breakfast's The Breakfast Wrap explores two major global developments: the historic Artemis II mission, which has sent humans farther into space than ever before, surpassing the Apollo 13 record by over 6,000 kilometers. The crew’s lunar flyby included a critical communications blackout as they passed behind the moon—lasting about 40 minutes—during which they were completely out of contact with Earth, a moment described as both poignant and nerve-wracking. The astronauts, trained as geologists, are providing unique human observations of uncharted lunar terrain, highlighting the irreplaceable role of human perception in scientific discovery. Meanwhile, the episode turns to geopolitical tensions, focusing on the U.S. blockade of oil to Cuba, which has led to life-threatening fuel shortages and deteriorating healthcare conditions. Economist Mark Weisbrot argues these sanctions amount to war crimes under international law, citing a Lancet study estimating 564,000 annual deaths from unilateral U.S. sanctions. The discussion then shifts to President Trump’s escalating threats against Iran, including the potential destruction of civilian infrastructure, which former U.S. diplomat Barbara Leaf calls a confounding and inappropriate escalation. Australia’s government, represented by Attorney General Michelle Rowland, expresses concern over the rhetoric and reaffirms its commitment to de-escalation and international law, while also addressing domestic challenges like the stalled national gun buyback scheme and the Royal Commission into the Bondi terror attack. The episode closes with the appointment of Dr. Ruth Higgins as Australia’s first female Solicitor-General, marking a historic milestone in the nation’s legal leadership.