In our ongoing quest to develop a moon base, could we possibly utilize the area beneath the surface of the moon in order to make the moon habitable? In this episode of This Week in Space, Tariq Malik and guest host Mike Wall of Space.com talk with Than Putzig of the Planetary Science Institute about a NASA-backed payload bound for the Marius Hills Pit, a roughly 50-meter-wide opening that may lead into a lunar lava tube to gather more data about these formations on the Moon and the possibility of these lunar caves becoming the Moon's first living habitats for humans. Putzig explains how geophysical instruments on a rover could detect hidden voids beneath the surface and measure the size of these lava tubes. We also ask Than how these lava tubes form, what a follow-up robotic explorer could reveal, and how this research fits alongside NASA's Artemis plans for a south polar moon base. Join us!

Headlines:

• Clear Images Emerge of China's Secretive Shenzhou Space Plane
• Virgin Galactic Unveils New Delta Class Spaceplane for Tourism
• Remembering Star Trek Legends Walter Koenig and Sir Patrick Stewart

Main Topic: Exploring Lunar Caves and the Gimli Mission

• Introduction to Lunar Caves, Pits, and the Quest for Lava Tubes
• NASA's Gimli Mission and Selection to Explore Marius Hills Pit
• Science Goals: Detecting and Mapping Lunar Lava Tubes for Potential Habitats
• Details on Geophysical Instruments and Survey Techniques
• Potential Benefits of Lava Tubes for Lunar Habitat Planning
• Technical and Logistical Challenges for Accessing and Using Lunar Lava Tubes
• Parallels with Lava Tubes on Mars and Planetary Science Collaboration
• Building Teams and Proposals at the Planetary Science Institute
• Future Steps for the Gimli Mission and Outreach Efforts

Host: Tariq Malik

Co-Host: Mike Wall

Guest: Than Putzig

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In this week's episode we turned to Chelsea Gohd, former writer for NASA/JPL and now with Space.com, to talk about the recent large data dump from the Artemis II mission. What was included? Why is this new data important? What observations were made, and what discoveries might result from them? What kind of annotations and notes did the astronauts include that make these observations uniquely valuable? And finally, we talk about Artemis III - what is the mission profile and what are the stakes for SpaceX and Blue Origin?

Headlines:

• SpaceX Seeks Approval for 450 Starship Launches Per Year
• Flying Tesla Roadster Demo Features SpaceX Thrusters and Suction Fan
• Astronomers Spot Possible First Green Star – the Cosmic Zombie
• Perseverance Rover Breaks Martian Distance Record

Main Topic: Artemis II Mission Data Dump and Lunar Science

• NASA Releases 800GB of Artemis II Lunar Mission Data
• Science, Images, Audio, and Annotations Collected by Astronauts
• Crew's Training to Make Detailed Lunar Observations
• Importance of Human Eyes on the Moon Versus Remote Sensing
• Astronauts Witness Spectacular Impact Flashes on Lunar Surface
• Firsthand Descriptions of Moon's Subtle Colors and Terrain
• Insights Into Crew Experience and Data Collection Process
• Astronauts' Career Moves Following Artemis II Mission
• Artemis III Plans: Docking, Landers, and Science Objectives
• Challenges Facing SpaceX Starship and Blue Origin Blue Moon Lander
• The Role and Status of New Axiom-Prada EVA/Mobility Suits for Artemis III
• Reflections on Historical and Current Lunar Exploration Approaches

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Chelsea Gohd

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Newspace is hiring! With the major powers heading to the moon, low-Earth orbit becoming busier than ever, and countless new companies entering the space marketplace, the hiring pipeline is more critical than ever. We spoke with Dr. Amanda Smith-Hackler, the Director of Education for the Universities Space Research Association and Principal Investigator for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars and STEM Workforce Development Programs, about the new and exciting opportunities available to young people seeking to enter the space workforce.

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Dr. Amanda Smith-Hackler

Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.

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