01 | Artemis Explained: Before the launch

In this episode of Science Friction, hosts Belinda Smith and Jacinta Bowler dive into the upcoming Artemis II mission, humanity's first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years. The mission, set to launch from Cape Canaveral with a window opening at 9:24 AM Australian Eastern Daylight Time, will send four astronauts—Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, and Christina Cook—on a historic journey around the Moon. Notably, Cook will become the first woman to orbit the Moon, Glover the first person of colour, and Hansen the first Canadian and non-American to do so. The episode explores the technical challenges behind the mission, including hydrogen leaks in the rocket’s fuel system and the need for precise launch windows aligned with Earth-Moon-Sun geometry. The crew is currently in quarantine and preparing through simulations and personal rituals, while a whimsical zero-gravity indicator named 'Rise'—a plush moon with an Earth cap—adds a touch of charm to the mission. The hosts emphasize that this is a test flight, not a guaranteed launch, with multiple backup dates available if delays occur. Beyond the engineering and logistics, the episode highlights the broader significance of returning to the Moon: as a stepping stone for Mars exploration, a platform for answering existential questions about life beyond Earth, and a strategic frontier in the emerging global space race. The astronauts’ personal stories and pre-launch routines—ranging from French braids to heartfelt farewells to family—add a human dimension to the high-stakes mission. Listeners are invited to submit questions for future episodes, underscoring the podcast’s mission to make space science accessible and engaging. The episode closes with a warm acknowledgment of the traditional custodians of the land and a promise of live coverage on launch day.