It was “one giant leap for mankind,” but the next step forward may require going back. Yes, back to the moon. Only this time the hardware may come from China. Or perhaps Europe. In fact, it seems that the only developed nation not going lunar is the U.S.

Find out why our pockmarked satellite is such hot real estate, and whether it has the raw materials we’d need to colonize it. A new theory of how the moon formed may tell us what’s below its dusty surface.

But – before packing your bags – you’ll want to skim Article IX of the U.N. treaty on planetary protection. We can’t go contaminating any old planetary body, can we? 

Guests:

  • James Oberg Former Space Shuttle Mission Control engineer and space policy expert
  • Clive NealGeologist, University of Notre Dame
  • Edward Young – Cosmochemist, geochemist, UCLA
  • Margaret Race – Biologist and research scientist at the SETI Institute

Segments:
Part 1: James Oberg / China on the Moon
Part 2: Clive Neal / Moon Colonies
Part 3: Edward Young / Moon Creation
Part 4: Apollo 17 Returns to the Moon
Part 5: Margaret Race / Moon Protection

Descripción en español

​originally aired February 29, 2016

Podcast also available on PocketCasts, SoundCloud, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and RSS.

2026 Webby Award Nominee
for our three part series on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Big Picture Science is an immersive radio show and podcast that reveals the unexpected connections in science.

Our Skeptic Check episodes take a critical look at extraordinary science claims and pseudoscience.

Don’t settle for a science snapshot. Get the big picture. 

Hosted By

Molly Bentley Executive Producer and Co-Host, Big Picture Science  

Seth Shostak Producer and Co-Host, Big Picture Science
Senior Astronomer, SETI Institute

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