{"id":384393,"date":"2026-04-06T08:27:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T08:27:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/384393\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T08:27:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T08:27:07","slug":"monday-briefing-can-human-based-space-exploration-still-be-meaningful-nasa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/384393\/","title":{"rendered":"Monday briefing: Can human-based space exploration still be meaningful? | Nasa"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning. For a short period today, the four-person crew of the Artemis II<\/a> mission will be alone in space, unable to contact anyone on Earth. Facing the far side of the moon, the astronauts will be further from our planet than anyone before them, divided from the rest of humanity by the enormous white rock we see in the sky at night.<\/p>\n

This is a crucial stage of their mission. All being well, the crew will spend most of their time documenting parts of the moon that no human has been able to see with their own eyes since the Apollo missions more than 50 years ago. Once done, the moon\u2019s gravity will catapult their Orion spacecraft back to Earth.<\/p>\n

Today on First Edition, we are covering what to expect in the critical hours of the Nasa<\/a> Artemis II mission, an indisputable marvel of human achievement and coordination. But first, the headlines.<\/p>\n

Five big stories<\/p>\n

Middle East | Donald Trump issued an expletive-laden warning for Tehran to reopen the strait of Hormuz or the US will obliterate Iran\u2019s power plants and bridges<\/a>. Iran\u2019s parliament speaker responded that the US president\u2019s \u201creckless moves\u201d would mean \u201cour whole region is going to burn\u201d.<\/p>\n

UK politics | Keir Starmer has criticised the Green party<\/a>, claiming that voting for Labour\u2019s rivals jeopardises advances such as the new workers\u2019 rights set to take effect today.<\/p>\n

Immigration | Government ministers are working with Labour backbenchers<\/a> to modify proposed immigration changes by the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, that would extend to 10 years the time required for individuals to achieve settled status in the UK.<\/p>\n

Aliens | Jared Isaacman, the top official at Nasa, has said that the possibility of alien life<\/a> is a core consideration in mission planning, emphasising that exploring the universe\u2019s secrets includes asking the question: \u201cAre we alone?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hungary | Serbia\u2019s claim that it found \u201cexplosives of devastating power\u201d near a pipeline that carries Russian gas to Hungary sparked claims by the country\u2019s leading opposition candidate of a possible \u201cfalse flag\u201d operation<\/a> aimed at influencing elections in favour of the incumbent prime minister, Viktor Orb\u00e1n.<\/p>\n

In depth: It\u2019s hard not to be moved by the enormity of thisA view of Earth taken by Reid Wiseman from the Orion spacecraft\u2019s window. Photograph: AP<\/p>\n

Ever since Artemis II launched from the Kennedy Space Centre on 1 April, the view of Earth has become smaller and smaller for its crew. Today, our planet will probably disappear entirely, replaced instead by the lunar landscape. The moon<\/a> will appear the same size as a basketball held at arm\u2019s length from Orion as it orbits.<\/p>\n

Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen will not land on the moon this time. The mission is about preparing for a lunar landing by 2028 \u2013 part of Nasa\u2019s plan to build a base on the moon that could have a continuous human presence. Over the weekend, the astronauts have spent their time checking systems and spacesuits, and rehearsing their role in scientific experiments connected to the mission.<\/p>\n

Some very earthly problems<\/p>\n

Despite being so far from Earth, they have already had to contend with some familiar problems, including an out of order loo. With help from the crew back home, Koch had to fix the plumbing on the $30m toilet \u2013 the first ever with a private cubicle on a spacecraft of this type.<\/p>\n

On previous Apollo missions, solid waste was collected in bags and strapped to spacesuits. Liquid waste was collected in condom-like containers. Unfortunately, both methods were prone to leaks \u2013 to the disgust of the astronauts. Thankfully, for everyone on board, the new system is working as intended \u2013 although the flush is so loud that the crew need to wear ear protection<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A science-gathering mission<\/p>\n

The mission has not been without controversy. The entire Artemis programme is expected to cost almost $100bn, which critics say is an affront to the millions of Americans suffering with a cost of living crisis. The launch is happening despite an attempt from President Donald Trump to make deep cuts to Nasa funding last year, which was rebuffed due to rare bipartisan support. And there is major scepticism that American astronauts will really be back on the moon in 2028 \u2013 with many cautioning it will probably happen when Trump\u2019s second presidency is over.<\/p>\n

Still, it\u2019s hard not to be enthralled by the achievements of the mission and its advances for our understanding of space travel.<\/p>\n

In Nasa\u2019s quest to better understand the challenges of deep space exploration, the astronauts are also volunteers in scientific experiments, hoping to bolster knowledge for future missions. They will be collecting saliva samples to monitor how their immune systems respond to radiation exposure, isolation and distance from Earth during the 10-day mission, examining whether dormant viruses could be reactivated by space travel. The re-emergence of illnesses like chickenpox and shingles has been a problem for astronauts on the International Space<\/a> Station.<\/p>\n

The crew are also wearing \u201corgan-on-a-chip technology\u201d<\/a>, a device the size of a USB stick that contains some of their blood. It acts as a replica of their bone marrow, which is especially sensitive to radiation. Nasa scientists hope that the data will help them better predict the response of astronauts to the demands of space travel \u2013 enabling mission planners to provide individualised medical kits to each crew member in the future.<\/p>\n

For missions that go deeper into space, astronauts will have to contend with \u201cspace weather\u201d from the Sun, which causes spikes in radiation that might poison them. The astronauts this time have a protection shelter on the craft with them that they will test against radiation spikes from solar flares and other high-radiation events.<\/p>\n

Humanity can work together<\/p>\n

Watching the livestream<\/a> from Orion on YouTube, it is hard not to be moved by the enormity of the scientific and technological achievements of the mission. During their journey, the astronauts have slept in strange positions to ensure they would not drift around the cabin, which is about the size of a caravan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe crew is feeling pretty good up here on our way to the moon,\u201d said astronaut Jeremy Hansen as the mission was cleared to zoom away<\/a> from Earth\u2019s orbit on Friday. \u201cHumanity has once again shown what we are capable of.\u201d<\/p>\n

Within hours of swinging around the far side of the moon, they will begin their return journey to Earth. There are still major challenges ahead. When it re-enters our planet\u2019s atmosphere on Friday , the spacecraft must withstand temperatures up to 1,650C before parachuting into the Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n

But today, a period of solitude in space awaits the crew: 41 minutes of radio silence where it will be just them among the stars. It is an experience that had a profound experience on astronauts before them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s when we will be closest to the moon, farthest from the Earth,\u201d astronaut Victor Glover said<\/a> in February in an interview with CBS\u2019s 60 minutes.<\/p>\n

Glover, the first Black person to travel to the moon, added: \u201cBut it is also a human moment. I would love for us to have a moment of togetherness for humans to go \u2018Hey, there\u2019s a part of humanity that\u2019s not in touch for the rest of us.\u2019 I hope that it inspires folks to have a moment of togetherness.\u201d<\/p>\n

For me, at least, it has.<\/p>\n

What else we\u2019ve been readingThe joys of clutter. Composite: Guardian Design\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t agree more with Robin Craig who argues<\/a>, passionately, that a home full of clutter beats a stripped back museum-style house every time. Poppy Noor, newsletters team<\/p>\n

Pamela Hutchinson has a moving interview with Sean Hepburn Ferrer<\/a>, son of Audrey Hepburn. He has written an authorised biography about his mother\u2019s extraordinary life. Patrick<\/p>\n

I loved Gaby Hinsliff\u2019s roundup<\/a> of the scandalous photos that changed the world in our Saturday paper this weekend, which did nothing to dampen my crush on Hugh Grant. Poppy<\/p>\n

I was blown away by this extraordinary story<\/a>, about a father and son who made their fortune in Dubai and then became wanted men. Patrick<\/p>\n

I read, in awe, this new start after 60, about a man who decided to become a professional poker player<\/a>, winning sums as big as \u00a3150,000. \u201cYou don\u2019t tend to get those highs in a normal job\u201d he says \u2013 you can say that again. Poppy<\/p>\n

SportLeeds celebrate after their victory against West Ham. Photograph: John Walton\/PA<\/p>\n

Football | Despite scoring twice in injury time to level the FA Cup quarter-final, West Ham still went out on penalties after their 2-2 draw against Leeds,<\/a> who reached their first semi-final since 1987.<\/p>\n

Rugby union | Bordeaux B\u00e9gles delivered a dominant performance<\/a> against Leicester, winning 64-14 in the Champions Cup to set up a quarter-final against Toulouse next weekend.<\/p>\n

Football | Arsenal made a surprise exit at the quarter-final <\/a>stage of the Women\u2019s FA Cup for the second successive season as Brighton stunned the record 14-time cup winners at Borehamwood.<\/p>\n

The front pages<\/p>\n

The Guardian\u2019s page one lead is \u201cTrump threatens to unleash \u2018hell\u2019 on Iran in expletive-laden tirade\u201d. The Mail\u2019s version is \u201cTrump drops F-bomb on Iran\u201d and the Mirror\u2019s main headline is \u201cUnhinged\u201d under a strapline that says \u201cPresident hits new low\u201d. The Financial Times reports: \u201cTrump renews Iran threat in bid to reopen Hormuz strait\u201d. The Times has \u201cNew Trump deadline to open Strait or \u2018face hell\u2019\u201d. Top story in the Telegraph is \u201c\u2018We got him\u2019 \u2013 US airman rescued in daring raid\u201d. The Express stays local with \u201c\u2018Vile\u2019 betrayal of grooming gang victims\u201d.<\/p>\n

Today in FocusDavid Ellison Photograph: Jeff Bottari\/Zuffa LLC<\/p>\n

Move over Murdochs, here come the Ellisons<\/p>\n

Margaret Sullivan on the billionaire father and son buying up the US media<\/a><\/p>\n

Cartoon of the day | Tom Gauld Illustration: Tom Gauld\/The GuardianThe Upside<\/p>\n

A bit of good news to remind you that the world\u2019s not all bad<\/p>\n

Take a ride on the Dragon de Calais. Photograph: PR IMAGE<\/p>\n

France can be reached in a few short hours by train from the UK, and offers some striking experiences for all tastes<\/a> this summer. In Calais, visitors can ride the fire\u2011breathing Dragon de Calais and its new companion, Le Varan, before exploring nearby beaches and chateaus. Normandy marks the centenary of Monet\u2019s death, with Rouen providing a quieter place to admire his cathedral series.<\/p>\n

Cyclists can tackle the new Travers\u00e9e Bretonne from Nantes to Mont\u2011Saint\u2011Michel. Brittany boasts tidal pools to cool off after long days of sightseeing, and the remote Aubrac plateau rewards travellers with rustic food and starry skies. Late summer in the Vall\u00e9e du Gapeau brings fig festivals and scenic hikes, while the Jura mountains reveal the world of comt\u00e9 cheese. Start packing those suitcases.<\/p>\n

Sign up here<\/a> for a weekly roundup of The Upside, sent to you every Sunday<\/p>\n

Bored at work?<\/p>\n

And finally, the Guardian\u2019s puzzles are here to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.<\/p>\n