Communicating space exploration via media roundtables, podcasts, and news outlets
I’ve been speaking about exploring space, our Moon, and science writing on multiple forums lately, more so than the usual. But I didn’t want to share each of these talks and interviews as individual blog posts, and then also promote them all on like five social networks. These “modern” ways of reaching humans on the Web are, frankly, stupid and a waste of time. And so I’m batching all recent (recorded) talks and sharing them as this one blog+newsletter post, which I feel should be worth your browsing time.
Duke University’s Space Diplomacy Lab
I was invited by the Duke University’s Space Diplomacy Lab to speak at their Annual Media Roundtable alongside Kristin Fisher, CNN’s Space Correspondent. Here’s the video. I first spoke about how learning the exact nature of the Moon’s water ice deposits is the most interesting thing to look forward to in lunar exploration. I then contextualized India’s recent space developments in the international scene, and highlighted the scope and potential of the country’s Gaganyaan program to send humans to space. Last but certainly not the least, I highlighted how people in power jumping the gun with policy recommendations based on shallow narratives about lunar missions by other countries must account for engineering and scientific factors or else it could adversely affect international cooperation and collaboration, like for the US and China.
But this you would only understand if you have scientists and engineers talking to policy makers. [...] As journalists, our job is to simplify and clarify the layers of what scientists and engineers do, as well as the geopolitical and policy elements.
Related: Did China choose the same lunar landing sites as the US for Chang’e 7? Or is it the other way round?
Speaking on the Space Industry podcast
The Space Industry podcast by satsearch—or what I like to call the Amazon for the space industry and companies—featured me as their guest on Episode 60! We discuss planetary and lunar exploration themes of various countries, and what independent space writing has been like for me these past few years. Oh, and I might have said that the commercial lunar ecosystem doesn’t exist. :)
Give it a listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or directly.
Keep looking up!
I enjoyed talking to Abhinav Yadav on his podcast Traveling Through Space which features science communicators. We spoke about why it’s so important to get people to look up at our Moon and wonder! I also explain the writing process I follow for my weekly Moon Monday blog+newsletter.
Tune in on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or listen directly.
Sustainable and commercial lunar exploration? A panel discussion
The Asia Pacific Oceania Space Association hosted a panel discussion on what would it take to have sustainable and commercial exploration of the Moon. Are we there yet with the latter? Hint: we are not. On my end of the panel, I stressed that we don’t even know the true nature, abundance, and accessibility of lunar water ice deposits yet, which is something upcoming missions like NASA’s VIPER, the ISRO-JAXA LUPEX rover, and CNSA Chang’e 7 will help us converge on. And so talks about imminent Moonbases and sustainable lunar presence are more aspirational at this point than being housed on facts. But we should remember that there are many more reasons to explore our Moon anyway.
Lastly, I had the opportunity to help explain a wider audience why the US White House recently asked NASA to create an independent time standard for the Moon; got quoted on the Indian Express to that end. ⏳ ... ⌛️ ... 🌙
If you like my efforts to promote global space and Moon exploration among people at large, I’d appreciate your support:
If you’d like me to speak at your event, conference, or podcast, get in touch: