Naked Astronomy, from the Naked Scientists

Artemis II launch and two Sians

05 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Richard Hollingham is at the Kennedy Space Center for the (historic) launch of Artemis II to the Moon. Sue Nelson joins him from Space Boffins HQ to h...

Artemis II, Dallas Campbell and Smile

22 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Broadcaster and author Dallas Campbell joins Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to discuss NASA's new plans for Artemis, space culture, A...

Mission Control, Starliner and Space Factories

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

How do you control a spacecraft on the way to the Moon? NASA flight director, Fiona Antkowiak, shares plans for the Artemis II mission and reveals the...

Emergencies, Unlucky Space Shuttles and Space 2026

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham are joined by member of the first crew to fix a satellite in orbit, Terry Hart. He discusses this month's Challenger...

Apollo 1, Frank De Winne, and Moon Museum

03 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's the bumper end of year edition featuring the first European Commander of the International Space Station (ISS), Frank De Winne. He joins Sue Nels...

How to build a Moon lander, Eileen Collins, and space quilts

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham get up-close with a Moon lander taking shape at Astrobotic in Pittsburgh. The first woman to pilot and command the S...

Life on White Mars, and a new space

03 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most isolated places on Earth is helping us understand how to live on a moon or another planet. Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollin...

Jim Lovell, space selfies and UK launch

04 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We celebrate Apollo legend Jim Lovell in this month's Space Boffins as we mine the archives to look back on his extraordinary space career. Sue Nelson...

UK Astronaut, ESA DG and the Forge Awakens

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fresh from the UK Space Conference, Space Boffins Richard Hollingham and Sue Nelson hear from UK astronaut Rosemary Coogan on life at the European Spa...

NASA cuts, water mission and Skylab

28 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Will China now get to the Moon first? NASA's former head of science, Thomas Zurbuchen, joins Space Boffins to discuss the proposed cuts to NASA's scie...

Factories in space, ET, and a space paraglider

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Could factories in space be the future of manufacturing? Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham meet the head of the UK company, Space Forge,...

Two astronauts and a Shuttle

10 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dinner chat on the space station, landing in the Shuttle and flying with William Shatner! Hosts Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham chat to NASA astrona...

HALO, Gateway and Vigil

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It's all about returning to the Moon and protecting the Earth this time with Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham. Sue goes to Thales Aleni...

Biomass, living on Mars, and incoming asteroids!

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Incoming! NASA's acting head of planetary defence, Kelly Fast, discusses asteroids, YR2 and how to protect our planet. The UK Space Agency's head of E...

NASA, the BBC and the Soviet spacecraft on the Isle of Man

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This month, recently-retired BBC space correspondent, Jonathan Amos, and former NASA employee Herb Baker, author of From Apollo to Artemis: Stories fr...

UFOs... Is the truth out there?

03 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have we been visited by space aliens? This month space boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham delve into the history and science of Unidentified Fl...

Off to Europa, and life on Mars

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

NASA's Europa Clipper mission is about to head off on a five year mission to explore one of Jupiter's largest moons. Planetary geologist mission scien...

John McFall, Tim Peake and how to build a spaceport

28 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Former paralympic athlete, surgeon and European Space Agency (ESA) reserve astronaut, John McFall joins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to share his...

Challenger, and Space Barbie

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Was the Space Shuttle fundamentally flawed? Richard Hollingham talks to Adam Higginbotham, author of a new book on the Space Shuttle to discuss the de...

Victor Glover, Starliner and Blue Origin

31 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

NASA astronaut and pilot of the Artemis II mission to the Moon, Victor Glover, joins Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to discuss the fi...

EarthCARE, Starliner and NASA's George Abbey

29 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham discuss the upcoming ESA EarthCARE mission with scientist Robin Hogan, the status of the BepiColombo m...

Intuitive Machines and a nuclear reactor for the Moon

29 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Chief Scientist for Intuitive Machines, Ben Bussey, joins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to talk through the first US soft landing on the Moon ...

America's return to the Moon and UK lunar ambitions

28 Feb 2024

Contributed by Lukas

After the first soft Moon landing from the US in over 50 years, Ken Kremer shares his excitement for Intuitive Machine's Odysseus lander, NASA's ongoi...

Moonwalkers, and NASA flight director Gerry Griffin

29 Jan 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Legendary NASA flight director Gerry Griffin and award-winning filmmaker Chris Riley join Space Boffins after a showing of London's immersive Moonwalk...

Frank Borman - Apollo Legend

18 Dec 2023

Contributed by Lukas

It's a seasonal special from Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham with a previously unbroadcast interview with Apollo-era legend Frank Borm...

Brits in Space!

30 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With the announcement of a planned all-UK astronaut mission, hosts Richard Hollingham and Sue Nelson chat to ESA reserve astronaut Meganne Christian a...

Shuttle Blankets and Space Burials

08 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

A Shuttle emergency you may not have heard of, sending your DNA into space, and a scientist studying the samples from asteroid Bennu. Sue Nelson and R...

Gui Bluford, and the end of ESA's Aeolus

28 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

We celebrate the 40th anniversary of the flight of the first black astronaut, Gui Bluford and speak to Diego Hurtado de Mendoza and Lisa Cortes, direc...

Space junk, giant claws and dark skies

28 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

This month it's all about the space environment - how do you remove space debris from orbit and make space more sustainable? The Earth Space Sustainab...

Space broadcast legend and 20 years at Mars

19 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Irish journalist Leo Enright joins us to discuss commentating on Apollo 17, an unfortunate celebrity encounter, the world's first astronomers, 20 year...

Hitchin to Houston: NASA's new science head

02 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

NASA's new head of science, Dr Nicola Fox, joins Space Boffins to chat about Mars sample return, solar missions and asteroids. Also, ESA new astronaut...

Juice to Jupiter and forgotten space shuttles

22 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

European Space Agency Juice mission to Jupiter's Michele Dougherty talks about icy moons, magnetic fields and life elsewhere in the solar system, and ...

Space Toilets and the New Guys

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

What's the toilet like in SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft? ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer reveals what a mission in the Dragon is like, from business class ...

Talking about Time

01 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Physicist and philosopher Sean Carrol talks to Naked Astronomy's Ben McAllister about the nature of time. Is it something truly fundamental to our Uni...

Mike Massimino and Meet the Minister

06 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Hubble astronaut Mike Massimino and UK 'Space Minister' George Freeman MP talk about inspiration from Apollo, Artemis, Hubble and what astronaut legen...

Multiverses, the Big Bang and laws of physics

11 Jan 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Physicist and science populariser Paul Davies talks to Naked Astronomy's Ben McAllister about some of the toughest questions cosmologist are grappling...

NASA's Dr Z

21 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Nasa's outgoing head of science, Thomas Zurbuchen talks about saving the James Webb Space Telescope, future missions to the Moon and Mars, and researc...

Cute Mars Rovers

05 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham celebrate the drama of the Spirit and Opportunity rover missions with NASA rover engineer Doug Ellison...

Last Man on the Moon: BONUS EPISODE

15 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this special bonus episode - for the first time in full - we play Richard's interview with the last man on the Moon, Gene Cernan. Recorded in summe...

Moon Trees

30 Oct 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Astronaut Stuart Roosa was a real-life action hero - Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham speak to his daughter about the Apollo 14 Command Module Pilot'...

Space Tyranny!

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

How do you design a space settlement government without it descending into tyranny? Charles Cockell shares his research with hosts Sue Nelson and Rich...

Apollo Remastered

27 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In a brave move, the Space Boffins attempt a podcast about pictures without any pictures! Joining them are science writer Andy Saunders, who's spent y...

Poppy Northcutt and Launch UK

03 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Apollo legend Poppy Northcutt joins Richard and Sue this month The only woman in mission control for the Moon missions, Poppy talks about the challeng...

Lessons from an Astronaut

27 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Not one but four astronauts feature in this month's Space Boffins. Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham chat to astronaut Nicole Stott about her book Bac...

Return to the Moon

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With the first Artemis mission on the launchpad, Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham look ahead to the next footsteps on the Moon. They ch...

Do we need astronauts?

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's the Space Boffins' most controversial episode yet, as Don Goldsmith talks about his new book written with Astronomer Royal Martin Rees - The End ...

Fiery Worlds and go for Mars

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In a bumper new year edition, we hear the latest on the Webb space telescope, discuss volcanoes on distant worlds and look ahead to Europe's mission t...

Flowers in Space

15 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Gardeners of the Galaxy podcast host Emma Doughty discusses the challenges and joys of growing flowers, chillies and vines (for wine!) in space. Sue a...

James Webb and astronaut Jessica Meir

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

ESA's senior science advisor Mark McCaughrean joins Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham to enthuse about the most powerful space telescope...

BepiColombo lobster eyes and Apollo legends

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

After BepiColombo's recent flyby of Mercury, Space Boffins Richard Hollingham and Sue Nelson hear from the University of Leicester's Dr Charly Feldman...

SETI: Looking for Life across the Universe

29 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This month, Naked Astronomy goes in search of the civilisations with which we might share this Universe. Andrew Siemion, Director of Berkeley SETI Res...

Europe leads the space station

10 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

ESA astronaut and soon to be Commander of the International Space Station, Samantha Cristoforetti, talks Dragons, Star City, and preparing for leaders...

Space Station Commander

12 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Shuttle pilot and International Space Station Commander, Terry Virts, chats to Space Boffins about flying the Shuttle, commanding the ISS, photographi...

Wally Funk Heads for Space

13 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On the 10th anniversary of Space Boffins, BBC Science and Space Correspondent Jonathan Amos comes aboard to celebrate Mercury 13 legend Wally Funk as ...

Mission to Europa

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Two astronauts, one space hipster, a writer and a musician all feature in this month's Space Boffins. Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham are joined by ...

Finding the God Equation

26 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This month on Naked Astronomy, we're seeking the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything. We're looking at the "God Equation", an equation that co...

Britain's First Astronaut

14 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In a podcast exclusive, Britain's first astronaut, Helen Sharman, joins the Space Boffins 30 years after her 1991 Juno mission. She describes the sele...

Celebrating 60 years of human spaceflight

09 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In an epic edition of the Space Boffins Podcast we ambitiously celebrate the 60th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's flight and the 40th anniversary of the...

Storms on the Sun

31 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This month on Naked Astronomy we're setting our sights on the Sun. How do storms form on the Sun? How can they wreak havoc here on Earth? And what can...

Perseverance on Mars

11 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

AS NASA's Perseverance rover makes it safely to Mars, we chat to science writer Elizabeth Howell about the array of missions now studying the red plan...

What might aliens look like?

26 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This month on Naked Astronomy, we're waxing lyrical about aliens. What might they look like? Can we apply the principles of biology to other worlds? T...

Space Zombies

11 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This month science journalist Katia Moskvitch joins the Space Boffins to discuss the zombies of the cosmos, neutron stars, as well as the European Spa...

Is There Liquid Water on Mars?

27 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This month on Naked Astronomy, we're mulling over Mars. We'll be chatting about the question of liquid water on the surface of Mars. Is it there at al...

China on the Moon

13 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Space journalist Andrew Jones and his cat join the Space Boffins this month to discuss China's ambitious plans for the Moon and beyond. Sue Nelson and...

Lighting up Dark Matter

25 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This month we're diving into dark matter, that unknown stuff that makes up a quarter of the Universe. Where is it, what is it, and how do we know it's...

Tim Peake Reveals All

15 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In a specially recorded face to (socially-distanced) face interview to mark the fifth anniversary of his mission to the International Space Station, B...

The largest telescope ever made

25 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This month on Naked Astronomy, we're taking a closer look at the largest telescope ever to be built, the Square Kilometre Array. The SKA spans contine...

Asteroids and Artemis

17 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

NASA has just collected a sample from an asteroid and work is well underway to land a woman on the Moon. Space journalist David Whitehouse chats about...

The End of the Universe

25 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Naked Astronomy we're taking a look at all the ways that the universe could come to a close. From the dramatic to the slow and pond...

Space Station Special

14 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

To celebrate 20 years of people living on the International Space Station, we feature only ISS astronauts in this special edition of Space Boffins. NA...

America's first space station

17 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Skylab's perilous and dramatic mission, life on Venus, the religion of Cosmism, and Brexit all get discussed this month. Richard Hollingham and Sue Ne...

Space Boffins celebrate their century

12 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Space Boffins celebrate their 100th Naked Scientists' edition with two major guests: NASA's head of science, Thomas Zurbuchen, and the UK Space Agency...

2020 Missions to Mars

14 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mars is the destination of choice for three Mars missions this summer, with the US, China and the United Arab Emirates all preparing for launch. Also,...

Splashdown!

15 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Following the successful Crew Dragon launch, Apollo 8 commander Frank Borman talks about the terrors of splashdown, and Shuttle astronaut and aquanaut...

Maiden Flight

10 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With astronauts preparing for the first flight in the Dragon spacecraft, space reporter Sarah Cruddas discusses this new era in space travel. Richard ...

The Loneliest Human: Space Boffins Special

01 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In a special bonus episode of Space Boffins Richard Hollingham celebrates Apollo 15 astronaut Al Worden, who died in March. The podcast features extra...

Cubesats, Hubble and Apollo 13 Trouble

14 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Richard Hollingham and Sue Nelson celebrate Hubble's 30th birthday with Shuttle astronaut Kathy Sullivan, who deployed the space telescope, and hear f...

Solar Orbiter, stamps and exoplanets

10 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The Sun, stamps and exoplanets in this edition. ESA's senior science advisor Mark McCaughrean reflects on the emotional launch of Solar Orbiter, Nobel...

Hubble, TRUTHS and space Law

10 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Live at Astrofest 2020, Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham talk to UK Space Agency chief scientist Chris Lee, space law expert Chris Newman and the Eur...

Robot Arms and Space Toilets

10 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Shuttle astronaut Mike Mullane recounts stories of space sexism, toilets and M and Ms in the first Space Boffins podcast of 2020. We also meet the eng...

2020 State of the Universe Address

24 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

On the tenth anniversary of Naked Astronomy, Dark Matter physicist Ben McAllister delivers our State of the Universe Address and asks "what's changed"...

Glove Actually and the Sew Sisters

13 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Rubber gloves, sew sisters and a mission to the Sun with Space Boffins Richard Hollingham and Sue Nelson this month. Richard talks to Solar Orbiter ES...

Moving to Mars

10 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What would a house on Mars look like? Space Boffins Richard Hollingham and Sue Nelson tackle the tricky topic of Mars interior design and the challeng...

Cosmic Girl - from California to Cornwall

15 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham visit Virgin Orbit's LauncherOne factory floor in Long Beach, California and Sue heads to Spaceport Co...

Boffins on Mars

10 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How clean is really clean? This month, as Europe's Rosalind Franklin Mars rover leaves the UK, Space Boffins visit the clean room to discover the effo...

Lunar Heritage and Lost Meteorites

10 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Space Boffins Richard Hollingham and Sue Nelson with a TinTin style headline for this month's podcast: lunar heritage and the lost meteorites of Antar...

Apollo 11 Special (Part 2)

10 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This is a Space Boffins podcast to blow your minds. Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Moon landings, it features the only woman in launch contro...

Apollo 11 Special (Part 1)

09 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As mankind celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Moon landings, Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham are joined by bestselling Apollo 11 a...

Remarkable Women: A hidden history

15 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Space Boffin Sue Nelson interviews two remarkable women for this podcast: Hidden Figure Christine Darden and Mercury 13 legend and astronaut wannabe, ...

Giant Rockets to the Moon

09 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Space Boffins get to see inside the NASA's famous Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Centre - a building so large that it has its own ...

Spacecraft Reunited

11 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This month Space Boffins contemplates the missing universe, the nature of humanity and reunites astronaut Nicole Stott with her Space Shuttle Atlantis...

Astrofest Live!

11 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Space Boffins are live on stage at Astrofest 2019 in London with a stellar line-up of guests to discuss landing on Phobos, weirdly-shaped space rocks ...

Flying hotdogs

16 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mice and flying hotdogs on the podcast as we report from NASA on how to save Apollo's famous mission control and discuss China's landing on the far si...

Mission to the Moon

13 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Apollo 8 commander, Frank Borman, joins Space Boffins Richard Hollingham and Sue Nelson in this month's podcast. Fifty years ago Apollo 8 became the f...

Don't call me Fruit Loops!

12 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Space Boffins podcast is in New York with NASA astronaut, engineer and Big Bang Theory star Mike Massimino. Recorded on the Hudson River from the ...

Space Boffins Live ESA Special

09 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Astronaut Paolo Nespoli joins Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham for a podcast special recorded at the European Space Agency's ESTEC faci...

Spy Satellite Special

10 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In a special edition of Space Boffins, Richard Hollingham meets a man rarer than a Moonwalker - a spy satellite engineer. Phil Pressel led the team th...

Space Boffins Blast Off!

09 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It's a rocket special on this month's Space Boffins with Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham. As the UK's plans for a Spaceport forge ahead, two microla...

Rockets in the Jungle

09 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

It's the 7th anniversary of Space Boffins and Sue and Richard are joined by BBC Science Correspondent, Jonathan Amos - a guest on the very first podca...

Magnificent Mercury: BepiColombo

09 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Magnificent Mercury is in full focus. Space Boffins Sue Nelson and Richard Hollingham are at the National Space Centre in Leicester with BepiColombo m...