Science Studio Special Artemis II

In this final special episode of Science Studio, Dr. Keith Pannell speaks with Dr. Jose Hurtado as the Artemis II mission comes to a close with its highly anticipated splashdown back on Earth.

As teams gather in mission control, the conversation reflects on both the technical and human sides of the journey, from the challenges of re-entry to the science behind how the Moon is tidally locked with Earth, explaining why we always see the same side. With the crew moments away from landing, the episode captures the tension, excitement, and accomplishment of a mission successfully completed.

Dr. Hurtado is a UTEP professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Resource Sciences. He is assisting with mission simulations at the NASA Johnson Space Center, and during the mission itself, Hurtado will work in NASA’s Science Evaluation Room. From there, he will help maximize scientific return along with real-time communications and feedback to astronauts during the short mission.

This was originally recorded April 10th, 2026 5PM (MDT)

In this special edition of Science Studio, Dr. Keith Panell continues his conversation with Dr. Jose Hurtado, taking a deeper look at the mysterious flashes observed on the Moon during the Artemis II mission.

Dr. Hurtado explains that these flashes are likely caused by high-speed meteorite impacts, releasing bursts of energy visible as brief flashes of light. Drawing from both astronaut observations and past data from lunar missions, the discussion highlights how common these impacts may be and what they reveal about the Moon's environment.

The Episode also looks ahead to the mission's final phase, as the crew prepares for re-entry and splashtown. From high-speed descent through Earth's atmosphere to landing in the Pacific Ocean, the conversation breaks down what it takes to safely bring astronauts home.

Dr. Hurtado is a UTEP professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental, and Resource Sciences. He is assisting with mission simulations at the NASA Johnson Space Center, and during the mission itself, Hurtado will work in NASA’s Science Evaluation Room. From there, he will help maximize scientific return along with real-time communications and feedback to astronauts during the short mission.

This was originally recorded April 10th, 2026 5PM (MDT)

In this special edition of Science Studio, Dr. Keith Panell speaks with Dr. Jose Hurtado about how scientist prepared questions for astronauts and what they learned from their responses, especially about the reported flahses on the Moon's surface. Multitple crew members observed there brief, bright events at the same time, strongly suggesting they were meteorite impacts. These observations could help scientists better understand how often these impacts occur and ehat they mean for future space missions.

The conversation also explores unexpected details, including subtle colors observed on the moon's surface - challenging the idea od the Moon as simply gray and offering new insight into its composition and how humans perceive it in space.

Dr. Hurtado is a UTEP professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences. He is assisting with mission simulations at the NASA Johnson Space Center, and during the mission itself, Hurtado will work in NASA’s Science Evaluation Room and help provide real-time communications and feedback to astronauts, which can maximize scientific return during the short mission.

This was originally recorded April 8th, 2026 11AM (MDT)

In this special edition of Science Studio, Dr. Keith Panell speaks with Dr. Jose Hurtado following an exciting and exhuasting day as Artemis II crew completed their lunar flyby.

While scientists are still analyzing the data, Dr. Hurtado reflects on the experience of watching the crew observe the Moon in real time. From detailed views along the boundary between light and darkness to unexpected colors and surface features, the mission offered a perpective that goes beyond what images alone can capture.

Dr. Hurtado is a UTEP professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences. He is assisting with mission simulations at the NASA Johnson Space Center, and during the mission itself, Hurtado will work in NASA’s Science Evaluation Room and help provide real-time communications and feedback to astronauts, which can maximize scientific return during the short mission.

This was originally recorded April 7th, 2026 11AM (MDT)

In this special edition of Science Studio, Dr. Keith Pannell speaks with Dr. Jose Hurtado in a Q&A-style conversation that explores the more personal side of life in space.

They dive into questions about what astronauts can bring with them whether they have access to phones, cameras, or music and how those small comforts shape the experience of being far from Earth. The conversation also turns reflective, touching on the idea of human connection in space and whether distance changes the way astronauts feel connected to others back home.

Dr. Hurtado is a UTEP professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences. He is assisting with mission simulations at the NASA Johnson Space Center, and during the mission itself, Hurtado will work in NASA’s Science Evaluation Room and help provide real-time communications and feedback to astronauts, which can maximize scientific return during the short mission.

This was originally recorded April 6th, 2026 10AM (MDT)

In this episode of Science Studio. Dr Keith Pannell speaks with Dr. Jose Hurtado about how astronauts are trained to understand the moon's geography ahead of their flyby.

Drawing from years of study anf fieldwork in places like iceland, the science team has prepared astronauts to recognize key lunar features from orbit. Dr. Hurtado explains how this mission offers a rare opportunity to see the Moon as a whole giving astronauts a global perspective that Apollo crew didn't fully exprerience. He also highlights major features like the massive Orientale Basin and what makes the Moon's rugged landscape so unique.

Dr. Hurtado is a UTEP professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences. He is assisting with mission simulations at the NASA Johnson Space Center, and during the mission itself, Hurtado will work in NASA’s Science Evaluation Room and help provide real-time communications and feedback to astronauts, which can maximize scientific return during the short mission.

This was originally recorded April 5th, 2026 1PM (MDT)

In this call for the special edition of Science Studio, Dr. Keith Pannell speaks with Dr. Jose Hurtado about the Moon and the importance of its study, including what scientists hope to learn from it today. Dr. Hurtado offers a clear overview of the Moon and explains why missions like Artemis II remain focused on exploring it. A key area of interest is the Moon’s south pole, where scientists are searching for signs of water. With extremely low temperatures in this region, there is strong potential for ice to remain locked away, making it a critical target for future exploration.

Dr. Hurtado is a UTEP professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences. He is assisting with mission simulations at the NASA Johnson Space Center, and during the mission itself, Hurtado will work in NASA’s Science Evaluation Room and help provide real-time communications and feedback to astronauts, which can maximize scientific return during the short mission.

This was originally recorded April 4th, 2026 11AM (MDT)

In this latest episode of Science Studio, Dr. Keith Pannell continues his conversation with Dr. Jose Hurtado following a major milestone in the Artemis II mission. After completing a successful loop around Earth, the crew made the decision to move forward and head directly toward the Moon.

The discussion explores the roles of the commander and pilot, along with key questions about the mission’s trajectory why the spacecraft travels far beyond the Moon, and how long it takes astronauts to adjust to life in space. Through these questions, the episode offers a clearer look at both the strategy and human experience behind the mission.

Dr. Hurtado is a UTEP professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences. He is assisting with mission simulations at the NASA Johnson Space Center, and during the mission itself, Hurtado will work in NASA’s Science Evaluation Room and help provide real-time communications and feedback to astronauts, which can maximize scientific return during the short mission.

This was originally recorded April 3rd, 2026 1PM (MDT)

In this follow-up episode of Science Studio, Dr. Keith Pannell continues his conversation with Dr. Jose Hurtado, focusing on the human side of the Artemis II mission what it’s actually like to live and work in space.

Before heading to the Moon, the crew will spend time orbiting Earth, adjusting to strict routines. Dr. Hurtado explains how astronauts manage sleep in space, how long they stay in orbit, and how there is no time for boredom in this mission.

The mission also includes important testing, from spacecraft systems to biological experiments happening back on Earth, that study how our bodies and even basic biological materials change in space.

Dr. Hurtado is a UTEP professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences. He is assisting with mission simulations at the NASA Johnson Space Center, and during the mission itself, Hurtado will work in NASA’s Science Evaluation Room and help provide real-time communications and feedback to astronauts, which can maximize scientific return during the short mission.

This was originally recorded April 2nd, 2026 at 1 PM (MDT)

Dr. Keith Pannell talks to Dr. Jose Hurtado about today's launch of Artemis Two. The space mission which is set to last a total of ten days. In this conversation they're discussing Hurtado's role, logistics, and excitement at Houston's mission control. Dr. Hurtado is part of a science team working out of the science operation room, where they will be supporting the science office through the mission. They explain how their team needs to provide input to orientate the flight crew and capsule so that they're able to capture a clear view of the moon. Through this early part of the voyage, the crew will be conducting tests on life support systems and spacesuits while they remain in Earth's orbit conducting tests before heading toward the moon.

Dr. Hurtado is UTEP professor in the Department of Earth, Environmental and Resource Sciences. He is assisting with mission simulations at the NASA Johnson Space Center, and during the mission itself, Hurtado will work in NASA’s Science Evaluation Room and help provide real-time communications and feedback to astronauts, which can maximize scientific return during the short mission.

This was originally recorded April 1, 2026 at 1 PM.

NASA

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