NASA's Artemis II Launched, But It Should Have Been a SpaceX Mission

April 2, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Artemis II marks NASA's first crewed lunar mission in 53 years, launching four astronauts on a 10-day flyby around the moon aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft. Hosts celebrate the achievement—humans traveling farther from Earth than ever (252,000 miles), reaching speeds of 25,000 mph on re-entry via a free-return trajectory—but argue it highlights NASA's inefficiencies, suggesting SpaceX's Starship could have done it cheaper and better, paving the way for sustainable lunar development.

Mission Highlights

The crew launched on the 322-foot SLS, taller than the Statue of Liberty, into a trajectory using Earth's gravity to sling them toward the moon. After orbiting Earth, they'll reach lunar distance in about six days, skirt the far side for half a day, and return without landing. Key firsts include the farthest human distance from Earth (4,700 miles beyond prior records) and extreme re-entry speed. Live streams show real-time feeds, with the crew now over 50,000 miles away (four Earth diameters). Minor issues like a toilet glitch were fixed early. The menu offers 189 items, including smoothies, spiced foods, and Canadian specialties, emphasizing crew comfort. Cockpit views contrast starkly with SpaceX's modern interfaces.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:07) **Artemis II Launch Excitement** - Hosts celebrate the first crewed lunar flyby in 53 years, sharing personal reactions and global buzz
2 (00:30) **Mission Trajectory and Milestones** - Details 10-day path: Earth orbit sling to moon, 252,000 miles out, dark side view, 25,000 mph reentry
3 (01:28) **Historical Context and Apollo Legacy** - Compares to Apollo era: 12 moonwalkers, last in 1972 with primitive computers outperforming modern limits
4 (02:40) **Artemis as Gateway to Lunar Future** - Positions mission as step one toward moon base via SpaceX/Blue Origin partnerships
5 (05:44) **SLS Cost Breakdown vs SpaceX Starship** - $4.1B per SLS launch ($93B total program) dwarfs Starship's $10-100M even if expendable
6 (07:40) **Cost-Plus Contracts vs Private Incentives** - NASA's cost-plus model incentivizes overruns; SpaceX fixed-price cuts costs via reusability
7 (09:30) **Artemis Program Roadmap** - Artemis III (2027) tests Starship docking; IV (2028) first landing, then biannual trips

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

NASA's historic launch is putting four astronauts on a mission to orbit the moon for the first time in 53 years. We explore the advanced technologies behind this achievement, the high costs of the Artemis II mission compared to SpaceX, and the ambitions of both organizations for lunar colonization.

We look at the crew’s extensive food menu but wrap with a discussion on future moon settlements, and why NASA should consider outsourcing.

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TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Launching Towards the Moon
4:20 Reflecting on 53 Years of Silence
5:15 The Cost of Space Exploration
8:33 Comparing NASA and SpaceX
9:54 Future Missions and Lunar Colonization
11:18 The Moon's Resources and Potential
12:34 Phased Plans for Lunar Outpost
14:00 The Astronauts' Menu
14:59 Toilet Troubles in Space
16:51 Visuals of Spacecraft Evolution
18:11 The Future of Space Travel
24:43 Closing Thoughts and Optimism for Space

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