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Planetary Radio • Apr 15, 2026

Triumph and turmoil: Artemis II and the renewed fight to save NASA science

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On This Episode

Jack kiraly portrait 2023

Jack Kiraly

Director of Government Relations for The Planetary Society

Ari Koeppel headshot

Ari Koeppel

Policy and Advocacy Fellow for The Planetary Society

Bruce betts portrait hq library

Bruce Betts

Chief Scientist / LightSail Program Manager for The Planetary Society

Sarah al ahmed headshot

Sarah Al-Ahmed

Planetary Radio Host and Producer for The Planetary Society

Also in this episode:

  • Reid Wiseman, Commander, Artemis II
  • Victor Glover, Pilot, Artemis II
  • Christina Koch, Mission Specialist, Artemis II
  • Jeremy Hansen, Mission Specialist, Artemis II
  • Jenni Gibbons, Capcom, Artemis II

The Artemis II crew has returned home safely after a historic 10-day journey around the Moon, the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. In this episode, we celebrate some of the mission's most extraordinary moments: the record-breaking Flight Day 6 when Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history, a breathtaking solar eclipse observed from lunar orbit, meteorite impact flashes spotted on the lunar surface, and a deeply personal crater dedication that moved the world. 

But the triumph comes with turbulence. Just days after launch, the White House released a Presidential Budget Request proposing a 47% cut to NASA's science budget — threatening 84 missions and nearly half of NASA's science portfolio. Jack Kiraly, Director of Government Relations at The Planetary Society, and Ari Koeppel, AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow, join host Sarah Al-Ahmed to break down what's at stake and what's being done about it. Plus, Chief Scientist Bruce Betts joins for this week's What's Up.

Orion splashing down
Orion splashing down NASA's Orion spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California, at 8:07 p.m. ET on Friday, April 10, 2026, concluding a successful 10-day journey around the Moon.Image: NASA
Orion and parachutes after splashdown
Orion and parachutes after splashdown Orion's drogue parachutes drift down into the water after the spacecraft successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.Image: NASA
Artemis II crew recovery
Artemis II crew recovery A helicopter prepares to lift the Artemis II crew aboard and carry them to the recovery ship.Image: NASA
Victor Glover and Christina Koch post-flight
Victor Glover and Christina Koch post-flight Artemis II pilot Victor Glover (in orange, left) and mission specialist Christina Koch (in orange, right) are all smiles as they celebrate their successful mission around the Moon from the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha.Image: NASA
Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen post-flight
Reid Wiseman and Jeremy Hansen post-flight Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman (in orange, left) and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen (in orange, right) radiate happiness as they sit on the flight deck of USS John P. Murtha after concluding their successful mission around the Moon.Image: NASA
Solar eclipse from Orion
Solar eclipse from Orion Captured by the Artemis II crew during their lunar flyby on April 6, 2026, this image shows the Moon fully eclipsing the Sun. From the crew’s perspective, the Moon appeared large enough to completely block the Sun for nearly 54 minutes of totality, extending the eclipse far beyond what we experience on Earth. The corona forms a glowing halo around the dark lunar disk, revealing details of the Sun’s outer atmosphere typically hidden by its brightness. Also visible are stars, typically too faint to see when imaging the Moon. The faint glow on the left side of the Moon is Earthlight — sunlight reflected off our planet.Image: NASA
Earthset
Earthset Earthset captured through the Orion spacecraft window at 6:41 p.m. EDT, April 6, 2026, during the Artemis II crew’s flyby of the Moon. A muted blue Earth with bright white clouds sets behind the cratered lunar surface.Image: NASA
Christina Koch views Earth from Orion
Christina Koch views Earth from Orion NASA astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch looks at Earth from the window of the Orion spacecraft on its way to the Moon during the Artemis II mission. At the time, Christina was already farther away than any woman has ever been from our planet.Image: NASA

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