Are we still going to Mars?

A month ago the Artemis II crew landed safely in the Pacific Ocean, completing their historic space mission to the far side of the moon. It’s been several decades since the last human mission to the moon - although this time there was no landing. However, the 4 astronauts travelled further from earth than any human ever has so far. David Aaronovitch asks his guests whether space exploration is back in fashion and if so what’s next? And are we any closer to a human mission to Mars and what would we hope to achieve there?

Guests:

Dr Julia Balm, Research Associate, Freeman Air and Space Institute in the School of Security Studies, King’s College London

Professor Andrew Coates, Mullard Space Science Laboratory, University College London

Libby Jackson, Head of Space, Science Museum, London

Presenter: David Aaronovitch

Producers: Caroline Bayley, Sally Abrahams, Kirsteen Knight

Production Co-Ordinator: Maria Ogundele

Sound Engineer: James Beard

Editor: Richard Vadon