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)