Four astronauts — Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen — are on their way around the Moon, on a journey that will take them farther from Earth than any human has gone before. This week on Planetary Radio, we bring you the sounds of launch day and the voices of the people who lived it.

You’ll hear from the engineers who built the spacecraft, including Mark Tobias, chief engineer at Northrop Grumman, Jan-Henrik Horstmann, European Service Module team leader at ESA, and Debbie Korth, deputy manager of NASA's Orion Program. U.S. Representative Mike Haridopolos and Senator and former astronaut Mark Kelly share their perspectives from the ground. Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk reflects on what it means for Canada to have one of their own heading to deep space for the very first time. NASA Chief Exploration Scientist Jake Bleacher and Lisa Carnell, director of Biological and Physical Sciences at NASA's Science Mission Directorate, break down some of the research happening on this mission. NASA astronaut Steve Bowen shares what it feels like to watch a crew launch knowing exactly what they're about to experience. And Joel Kearns, NASA's deputy associate administrator for exploration, reflects on what this moment means for the future of human spaceflight.

Plus, Planetary Society Science Editor Asa Stahl and Digital Community Manager Ambre Rose Trujillo, share what it was actually like to be there on launch day. And Planetary Society Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins us for What's Up, with a look at what we've learned about the Moon since the Apollo era.

Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-artemis-ii-launch

Four astronauts &mdash; Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen &mdash; are on their way around the Moon, on a journey that will take them farther from Earth than any human has gone before. This week on Planetary Radio, we bring you the sounds of launch day and the voices of the people who lived it.
You&rsquo;ll hear from the engineers who built the spacecraft, including Mark Tobias, chief engineer at Northrop Grumman, Jan-Henrik Horstmann, European Service Module team leader at ESA, and Debbie Korth, deputy manager of NASA's Orion Program. U.S. Representative Mike Haridopolos and Senator and former astronaut Mark Kelly share their perspectives from the ground. Canadian Space Agency astronaut Joshua Kutryk reflects on what it means for Canada to have one of their own heading to deep space for the very first time. NASA Chief Exploration Scientist Jake Bleacher and Lisa Carnell, director of Biological and Physical Sciences at NASA's Science Mission Directorate, break down some of the research happening on this mission. NASA astronaut Steve Bowen shares what it feels like to watch a crew launch knowing exactly what they're about to experience. And Joel Kearns, NASA's deputy associate administrator for exploration, reflects on what this moment means for the future of human spaceflight.
Plus, Planetary Society Science Editor Asa Stahl and Digital Community Manager Ambre Rose Trujillo, share what it was actually like to be there on launch day. And Planetary Society Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins us for What's Up, with a look at what we've learned about the Moon since the Apollo era.
Discover more at: <a href="https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-artemis-ii-launch">https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2026-artemis-ii-launch</a>

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our Solar System and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts who are taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye the Science Guy and Bruce Betts as they dive deep into space science and exploration. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway where the future of the US space program hangs in the balance. Visit planetary.org/radio for an episode guide and much more.

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our Solar System and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts who are taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye the Science Guy and Bruce Betts as they dive deep into space science and exploration. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway where the future of the US space program hangs in the balance. Visit planetary.org/radio for an episode guide and much more.

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our solar system and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye, the Science Guy, and Bruce Betts, chief scientist for The Planetary Society, as they dive deep into the latest space news. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway with Casey Dreier and Jack Kiraly to discuss the politics of space exploration in the US and advocacy actions you can take to support the missions that matter. Visit planetary.org/radio for the space trivia contest, an episode guide, and much more.

Planetary Radio brings you the human adventure across our solar system and beyond. We visit each week with the scientists, engineers, leaders, advocates, and astronauts taking us across the final frontier. Regular features raise your space IQ while they put a smile on your face. Join host Sarah Al-Ahmed and Planetary Society colleagues including Bill Nye, the Science Guy, and Bruce Betts, chief scientist for The Planetary Society, as they dive deep into the latest space news. The monthly Space Policy Edition takes you inside the DC beltway with Casey Dreier and Jack Kiraly to discuss the politics of space exploration in the US and advocacy actions you can take to support the missions that matter. Visit planetary.org/radio for the space trivia contest, an episode guide, and much more.

Four astronauts are on their way around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. This week on Planetary Radio we bring you the sounds of launch day and the voices of the people who made it happen.