Astrophysicist Dr Brad Tucker joined The Real Radio Show this week to break down NASA’s Artemis II mission. While the mission didn’t put humans back on the Moon, Brad described it as a massive test drive making sure the new rocket and capsule are ready to go before the really ambitious missions begin. Even so, Artemis II delivered some incredible moments, including ultra‑clear images showing the Moon in surprising browns and reddish hues, and even live views of tiny meteoroids slamming into the lunar surface and sparking on impact.
Brad also highlighted Australia’s role in the mission, with Mount Stromlo Observatory helping test laser-based space communications that send data back to Earth far faster than old radio systems. Fast enough, he joked, to download a TikTok from the Moon — and eventually livestream astronauts walking there. The chat drifted into why it’s taken so long to return to the Moon (hint: money, planning and public interest), and even the possibility of aliens. Brad’s verdict? Simple life is likely out there, complex life maybe too — just don’t expect it to look anything like us. Space dogs, however, are still firmly on the table.
Listen to the full chat with Brad below:
