The role of the astronaut is in flux
MIT Technology Review Narrated

The role of the astronaut is in flux

C1AdvancedSeptember 2, 202619 min

Human spaceflight has been racking up new milestones. But we’re still grappling with a fundamental question: Why go in the first place? This story was written by Becky Ferreira and narrated by Noa - newsoveraudio.com. Listen to more of the world's best journalism on the Noa app.

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0:00

Welcome to MIT Technology Review Narrated. My name is Matt Honin. I'm our Editor-in-Chief. Every week, we'll bring you a fascinating, new, in-depth story from the leading edge of science and technology, covering topics like AI, biotech, climate, energy, robotics, and more. Here's this week's story. I hope you enjoy it.

0:30

Becky Ferreira writes, the role of the astronaut is in flux. When the four astronauts on board NASA's Artemis 2 swung around the moon earlier in 2026, they set a new record for the farthest humans have ever ventured from Earth, surpassing the distance set by Apollo 13 in 1972 by some 4,000 miles.

0:58

no space mission can live up to the historic touchdown of Apollo 11, a spectacle that 20% of the world population watched live, Artemis 2 still attracted massive public interest. It drew tens of millions of viewers and inspired outpourings of moon joy, a term coined spontaneously during the mission that became a viral sensation.

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