Hey, Wowzer fams, Mindy here.
And before we start the show... Oh, sorry about that.
I forgot to put it on silent.
Hey, wait a second.
It's an email from us.
Check it out, Reg.
Let's see here.
It says we've got episode recommendations, free STEM activities to try out at home.
The latest news about what's happening at Tinkercast.
Pretty bonker balls, huh?
Here, I'll help you sign up.
So you and the grownups will just go to tinkercastcom, slash email and put in your first and last names and email address.
Wait, Reggie, I just realized I don't know your last name.
Really?
Is that with a silent G or a silent Q?
Let's see here.
Oh, and you're not a robot, right?
Sorry, just had to double check.
Okay, you are all signed up.
Grownups, you can sign up for our Tinkercast newsletter too.
It's full of ideas on how to get some extra wow to your family's life.
Visit Tinkercast.com slash email to sign up today.
That's Tinkercast.com slash email.
That's it.
And now let's get on with the show.
We're in a golden age.
So many discoveries that are jumping off the page.
Okay, everyone.
Time to zip it up and get to sleep.
Zip!
Nice and cozy.
My zipper's busted.
Fingerling, give me yours.
I'm not giving you my zipper, G-Force.
You know Mindy, I was skeptical about a backyard campout, especially without a tent, but we really couldn't ask for a more perfect evening.
Yeah, it's real nice out here.
Uh, Mindy?
Oh, sorry.
Sorry, Guy Raz.
I fell asleep.
What were you saying?
Oh, well, I was just saying that the temperature is just right.
There's not a mosquito in sight.
The stars are shining bright and... Ah, feel that?
There's a gentle breeze in the air.
Excuse me.
Yep, there's a breeze all right.
Tommy, no tooting.
I'm trying to look at the stars and the moon.
Reggie, nuh-uh.
You can't launch yourself to the moon with toots.
Speaking of the moon, there's a full moon tonight.
Look at it.
It's magnificent.
Turn it off.
I'm sorry?
I said turn it off.
It's too bright.
Wait, the moon?
Yeah, I don't like all that light.
Turn it off.
You want us to turn off the moon?
Garage, I said turn off the moon.
Can nobody hear me?
Well, maybe we'll just send you to the moon, G-Force, and you can unplug it yourself.
You keep talking and I'm going to unplug you, Fingerling.
Grandma G-Force, you can't turn off the moon.
Everyone knows there's a bunch of powerful aliens up there shining lights so that we don't use too much electricity at nighttime.
No way, dude.
It's true.
Mother says my nightlight is costing her a fortune.
Bendy, wake up!
What?
Who?
What was that?
Uh, no one unplugged the moon.
No one can unplug the moon because the moon does not run on electricity.
That's right, Guy Raz.
It runs on alien power.
Dennis. there are no aliens or any life forms on the moon.
Exactly.
There has been life on the moon before, but that was during NASA's Apollo missions, when they landed human astronauts there.
Yeah, and the last one was the Apollo 17 mission all the way back in 1972.
Well, that was over 50 years ago.
A lot could have changed up there since then.
Yeah, okay, everyone.
That's enough conspiracy theories for tonight.
Now settle down.
Time to go to sleep, okay?
Ah, but Reggie and I aren't sleepy.
Are we, Reggie?
Ow.
Sweet dreams.
See you in your nightmares.
What?
Well, I think I'm going to stay up here and keep on looking out for anything.
Well, looks like they're out.
Not me.
I'll never fall asleep.
I have the energy of a moon alien light.
Sure is peaceful out here, Guy Raz.
Yeah, finally.
Just look up at that spectacular sky.
Yeah, it's so bonker balls to think that every single star we see up there is actually billions of years old.
Yeah, or that actual humans have walked on that very moon.
Oh, I'd do anything Anything to be able to walk on that moon.
Or even to live on that moon.
It would be so peaceful and quiet.
Hey, Guy Raz?
Yeah, Mindy?
Do you think humans will ever get back to the moon?
Back to the moon?
Back to the moon?
Back to the moon?
Back to the moon?
Back to the moon?
Whoa.
Reggie?
Where are we?
Reggie, I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.
Oh, that's right.
We've never been to Kansas.
Oh, I'm not just regular old Guy Raz, Mindy.
I'm Dream Guy Raz.
And you're in your dream.
And I'm in your dream.
And Dream Reggie is in your dream, too.
Hi, Dream Reggie.
Hi.
Wait, what?
Dream Guy Raz?
That's right.
What's the difference between regular old Guy Raz and Dream Guy Raz?
Well, regular old Guy Raz likes kale and wears a blue jacket with elbow patches.
And Dream Guy Raz has fairy wings and a magic wand sword laser.
See?
Uh, that doesn't make any sense.
Well, neither do your dreams, Dream Mindy.
What do you mean?
Well, how about this?
What?
Poof!
Wow!
What?
Look, now you're floating in outer space with your motor pigeon.
What in the... Reggie, you have wheels in my dream?
Wait, what was that?
Oh, that's a question you were asking just as you were falling asleep.
It's been floating around here for a while.
Wow, why is it floating around?
Because you're a very curious person, and it's a very good question.
Huh.
I guess I am still curious.
Will we humans ever go back to the moon, Dream Guy Razzi?
We sure will, Dream Indy.
Really?
How?
Another great question.
Oh, thank you.
You see, humans haven't been to the moon since 1972.
But with NASA's Artemis program and a little help from some private space companies and international space agencies, humans could be back on the moon as early as 2020.
2026.
Ah, that's so close.
But the moon is not that close, Guy Raz.
We could fit anywhere between 28 and 32 Earths between Earth and the moon.
How will we even get there?
Why, we'll get there with... The Space Launch System Rockets!
Or the SLS for short.
The what?
The Space Launch System rocket.
It was built specifically for the Artemis program five missions that will use new technologies to explore more of the moon's lunar surface than ever before.
And to get to the lunar surface, NASA plans to use this Space Launch System rocket?
That's right.
Here, let me show you.
Show me?
Huh?
I gotta be prepared for that.
What in the... What is that?
That, Dream Mindy, is the NASA Space Launch System rocket of your dreams.
Whoa, it's huge.
It's taller than the Statue of Liberty.
And almost as powerful, too.
Here, let's watch this dream advertisement for it.
A commercial for a rocket?
You got it.
Hit it, dream advertisement.
Are you looking for a vehicle that's got what it takes to get you to the moon and back again?
Yeah, sure.
Then look no further than the Artemis SLS.
The only Space Launch System rocket powerful enough to carry you, your astronaut friends, the spacecraft Orion and all your cargo luggage directly to the moon on a single mission.
Now that's...
With top speeds of 24500 miles per hour and 95 million pounds of thrust, the Artemis SLS rocket is built for deep space exploration.
Ah, but it looks expensive.
I wonder how much it costs.
And right now it only costs 23 billion dollars.
Is that a lot?
It's complicated.
Oh yikes.
The moon is waiting and it's got secrets to share.
So get out there and climb aboard the most powerful rocket in the world.
The Artemis Space Launch System.
Built to wow.
Wow.
Pretty impressive, huh, Dream MD?
Uh, Dream Guy Rozzy, can I have $23 billion?
And fortunately, not even in your dreams.
Poker balls.
So what's next, Dream Guy Raz?
Well, let's go check out that Orion spacecraft we saw in the commercial.
Wait, we're going to go see the Orion spacecraft?
Yep.
Yes!
Here we are.
Ah!
You gotta warn me next time, man.
What's that thing?
Why, it's the Orion spacecraft.
Its job will be to carry astronauts from Earth's orbit to lunar orbit, or moon orbit, and back.
Oh, like an outer space getaway car?
Well, something like that.
I should also mention that previous spacecrafts were typically used once, but the Orion spacecraft is different.
It's different?
How?
Well, the Orion spacecraft is partially reusable.
Reusable reusable, that's right, partially reusable.
Wait, so astronauts can ride in the orion spacecraft to the moon and back to earth again, and then other astronauts can ride in it after they're done with their trip, and the orion isn't gonna wind up as just another piece of space junk orbiting around outer space.
That's the idea.
The Artemis program plans to send more than a few humans back and forth to the moon.
Really?
Yes.
In fact, the third mission, Artemis 3, intends to see two astronauts land on the surface of the moon.
And what are these astronauts going to do while they're on the moon?
Well, you're just full of great questions, Dreaminny.
Hold on.
Whoa, what is this place?
It's the moon.
We're on the lunar surface.
We're on the moon?
Dream Reggie, we're on the moon.
But why is it so dark?
That's because we're on the lunar south pole of the moon tree, Mindy.
It's the southernmost point on the moon, and it's dark because it's lunar night.
And we're on the far side of the moon, tilted away from the sun.
I should mention that lunar nights last for 14 Earth days.
Whoa.
That would be like getting up to 336 hours of sleep.
Imagine all the weird dreams you could have in that time.
And I'd be happy to guide you through every one of them.
Wait, Dream Guy Roz, Reggie, look over there.
It looks like there's some sort of little alien neighborhood on the moon.
Ah-ha!
I knew there were aliens on the moon!
Pat!
Dennis!
Where'd you come from?
Don't pay any attention to him.
That's just Dream Dennis.
Hey, you aliens!
Quit shining so much light down on Earth!
We're trying to sleep!
They're not aliens, Dream Dennis.
That's just what they want you to think, Dream Guy Roz.
They're not aliens?
Nope.
That little neighborhood-looking thing is the Artemis Base Camp.
A camp?
There's camping on the moon?
Yep, kind of.
The Artemis Base Camp gives the NASA astronauts a place to live and work on the moon.
See, there's a lunar cabin, a rover, and even a mobile home.
Wow, a mobile home for moon road trips?
Yes, I suppose, except there aren't any roads.
Is that Thomas Fingerling?
Oh yes, that's dream Thomas Fingerling.
Huh, I guess you can launch yourself to the moon with tubes.
Hey there, dream guy.
Rozzy, you seen Dreamforce around here?
Uh, no.
Why?
Uh, well, she's around here somewhere trying to turn off the moonlight.
Again?
Yep.
Now, where's that light switch?
I know it's around here somewhere.
Oh, there she is.
Gotta go.
Up, up, and away!
Ugh, that stinks.
True, but it is a great way to get around.
So Dream Guy Roz, is it going to be a problem for the astronauts on the base camp if Grandma G-Force turns off the moonlight?
It should be fine, but she wouldn't want to turn off the sun, you see.
Continuous sunlight is needed to power the base camp and to help with the extreme temperature swings here.
But that's only needed at the high points of elevation here on the moon.
Ah, gotcha.
But these astronauts also need access to areas of complete darkness, because those areas hold a very important and very valuable natural resource.
Ooh, what is it, Dream Guy Roz?
Water.
Water?
That doesn't sound very exciting, Dream Guy Raz.
Oh, but on the moon it is, Dream Indy.
And a lot of the time it is found in the darkest parts of the moon's surface.
Parts that never see sun.
Parts that are cold enough to freeze water into ice.
Moon water?
Exactly.
Moon water.
Wow.
This dark area of the moon contains something called cold traps.
Cold traps that may hold water and ice left behind from comets and meteorites.
And then the astronauts can gather the ice and water from these cold traps and use that water, instead of having to bring up a bunch of water from the Earth.
That's the idea.
This is amazing.
It really is like camping on the moon.
It is.
So, Dream Guy Raz, why exactly is NASA doing all of this?
I mean, why are they going moon camping?
What do they hope to accomplish?
Well, Dream Indy, I guess you could say it's practice.
Practice?
Practice for what?
Practice for Mars.
Mars?
We're going camping on Mars?
Man, this dream is getting so weird.
Well, soon this dream will be a reality, Mindy.
NASA wants to set up a permanent base or campground right here on the moon in order to test new technologies and practice how to survive in outer space.
Huh.
Kind of like camping in your backyard before going off on a trip into the wilderness.
Exactly.
The Artemis program wants a permanent moon base so they can get better at space exploration.
Uh-huh.
Found it.
Grab a dream force.
I'm scared.
Turn the moonlight back on.
No.
Wow, it really is dark on the moon.
I can't see where I'm going.
Yeah.
And cold.
Dream Guy Raz, I think it's time to get back to Earth.
Reggie, no, we're not from Kansas.
No problem, Dream Indy.
If you want to go home, all you have to do is click your heels together three times and say there's no place like Earth.
Okay.
One, two, three.
There's no place like Earth.
There's no place like Earth.
There's no place like Earth.
Uh, Dream Guy Ross?
Nothing's happening.
I'm just kidding.
All you have to do is wake up, Mindy.
Wake up, Mindy.
What?
Wake up, Mindy.
Wake up, Mindy.
Mindy, wake up, Mindy.
What?
Huh?
Regular old Guy Raz?
Is that you?
I mean, I don't think I like being called regular old, but yeah, it's me, Guy Raz.
Man, I just had the wildest dream.
Oh, yeah?
Yeah.
You were there and Reggie was there and Dennis and Thomas Fingerling and Grandma G-Force were there.
Was I the Dennis of your dreams, Mindy?
And me?
I told you I'd see you in your nightmares.
No, listen, I was on the moon, and NASA had sent astronauts to build a permanent moon base camp.
Wow.
Uh well uh, And there was a little lunar cabin and a little lunar rover and a lunar motor home and little astronauts were living and working there.
Woo!
Yeah, Mindy, that's because... And they built a spacecraft, Guy Raz.
It was called the Orion and it would shuttle astronauts back and forth from the Earth to the moon and then back again.
And then it would be launched from the biggest and most powerful rocket ever built.
Oh, sounds fancy.
Mindy, will you just?
And the moon base is like a vacuum camping trip and they're on the South Pole and they're gonna try to harvest moon water and practice to go to Mars.
Mindy, that's all real!
What?
It is?
Nuh-uh.
Yes, it is.
NASA's really doing all of the things you just said.
But what about Thomas Fingerling flying around with his toots and Grandma G-Force turning off the moonlight?
Uh, well, that part sounds like it was just a dream.
Oh.
Well, hum.
But all the things you were talking about are part of the Artemis program.
Yeah, Artemis.
How'd you know that?
Are you sure you're not Dream Guy Raz?
Dream Guy Raz?
No, no, Mindy.
I'm just regular old... Ouch!
Mindy, don't pinch me.
I just needed to make sure you're real and I'm not dreaming.
You're real.
I'm real.
I'm not dreaming.
Neither are you.
The Artemis program is real and it's already begun.
Artemis 1 launched on November 16th, 2022.
It did?
So there are humans on the moon right now?
Well, not quite yet.
Artemis 1 was an uncrewed moon orbiting and return mission.
Ah, which means that NASA launched the rocket without any people on board.
Kind of like a flight test.
Yes, exactly like a flight test.
Got it.
Artemis missions two and three will have real astronauts on board and are currently scheduled for launch in 2025 and 2026.
Wow.
Wow, I can't believe my dream was real, Guy Raz.
Well, it sounds like it wasn't quite real yet.
And I would hope Thomas Fingerling flying around on his own toots will never be real.
Oh, come on, fella.
Pardon me.
But if everything goes according to plan, NASA will successfully put a permanent base camp on the moon.
And drink moon water?
Yeah, and drink moon water.
This is so bonker balls.
Would you two quit talking about moon water?
It's making me have to go to the bathroom.
Just go inside, Dennis.
Ah, but I'm all warm and toasty in my sleeping bag.
Reggie, carry me inside, please.
Reggie, please.
You'll be like the Orion spacecraft and I'll be Spaceman Dennis.
Dennis?
Carry me back to Earth, Reggie, so I can go party and check my email.
Hooray!
Back to Earth!
Back to Earth!
Bye, Dennis.
We're just going to stay out here on the moon base a little while longer.
And dream about tomorrow.
Wow in the World will be right back.
Grown-ups, this message is for you.
Hey, grownups, spring is right around the corner.
And as schedules fill up with activities and travel, let IXL help you stay on top of your child's learning.
IXL is an award-winning online learning platform that fits seamlessly into homeschooling.
It offers interactive practice in math, language arts, science and social studies for grades pre-K through 12th.
IXL offers personalized learning for every child and gives parents clear insight into their progress.
At Tinkercast, making learning fun is our bread and butter.
So we love that IXL has games, awards and celebrations to keep students motivated and engaged.
Make an impact on your child's learning.
Get IXL now, and Wow in the World listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixl.com slash wow.
Visit ixl.com slash wow to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.
Hey, Wowzer fams, Guy Raz and Mindy here, and before we start the show... Happy Earth Day to you!
Happy Earth Day to you!
Happy Earth Day, dear Wowzers!
Happy Earth Day to you!
If you're looking for ways to celebrate our Earth today and every day, visit Tinkercastcom slash Earth to find activities, episodes and videos that bring the wows of the world right to you.
And while you're at it, don't forget to show your gratitude to the Earth today.
It does a pretty good job of taking care of all of us.
So let's all remember to take care of it, too.
That's it.
Now let's get back to the show.
Hey, Wowzer fams, Mindy here.
And before we start the show... Oh, sorry about that.
I forgot to put it on silent.
Hey, wait a second.
It's an email from us.
Check it out, Reg.
Let's see here.
It says we've got episode recommendations, free STEM activities to try out at home.
The latest news about what's happening at Tinkercast.
Pretty bonker balls, huh?
Here, I'll help you sign up.
So you and the grown-ups will just go to tinkercastcom, slash email and put in your first and last names and email address.
Wait, Reggie, I just realized I don't know your last name.
Really?
Is that with a silent G or a silent Q?
Let's see here.
Oh, and you're not a robot, right?
Sorry, just had to double check.
Okay, you are all signed up.
Grownups, you can sign up for our Tinkercast newsletter too.
It's full of ideas on how to get some extra wow to your family's life.
Visit Tinkercast.com slash email to sign up today.
That's Tinkercast.com slash email.
That's it.
And now let's get on with the show.
That's it.
Back to the show.
Hi, thanks for calling Wow in the World.
After the beep, get ready to record.
Hi, Mindy and Gaurav.
My name is Mia and I live in New Paltz, New York.
And my Wow in the World is that jellyfish. have no heart, and octopuses have three of them.
Say hi to Raggy.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz.
My name is Alexander, and I live in Washington, D.C.
My wow in the world is that a hippopotamus may seem slow, but it can still run faster than a human.
Hi, Mindy and Guyrod.
My name's Elizabeth.
And my name's Sarah.
We live in Columbia, Missouri.
And our wow in the world is some bats can eat more than half their body weight in insects every day.
Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz.
My name is Oliver.
I'm seven years old, and I live in Washington, D.C.
My wow is that animal poop can be turned into electricity.
Say hi to Thomas Fingerling for me.
Sup?
Hi, Mindy and Guy Raz.
This is Lily.
Wow in the world is that chickens are the most common bird on earth.
Say hi to reggie, dennis hi and grandma g.
Force for me.
Oh, snap bye, Hi.
My name is Jack and I'm from Nevada, Florida.
I'm nine years old and my wow in the world is that Play-Doh was originally used to remove stains from walls.
Isn't that bonker balls?
Hello, my name is Hallie.
I live in Boise, Idaho.
My wow in the world is that Earth is the most dense planet in the solar system.
Hi, Mindy.
Hi, Guy Ross.
My name is Owen, and I'm from Philadelphia, PA.
My wow in the world is that hyenas' poop is white because they eat bones.
Bye!
Hi, my name is Caroline, and I'm from Mountain View, California.
My wow is that snails have between 1,000 and 12,000 tiny teeth on their tongue called radula.
Say hi to Grandma G for us, Reggie, and Dennis for me.
Oh, yeah.
Huzzah!
End of messages.
Wow in the World is written by Mindy Thomas and Tom Van Kalken with help from me, Guy Raz.
Original sound design and music editing is done by Tyler Thole with help from our supervising producer, Jed Anderson.
You can also hear Jed Anderson in the voices of Dennis Thomas Fingerling, Reggie and many of the other silly characters that you hear on our show.
And Lizzie Freilich can also be heard as some of the silly characters on our show.
Jessica Bode keeps our facts straight as our fact checker and Meredith Halpern-Ranzer powers the wow at Tinkercast.
Our theme song was composed and performed by three-time Grammy nominees, The Pop Ups.
Find them at thepopups.com.
Special thanks to Kit Ballinger, Rebecca Caban, Dr Natasha Crandall, Kenny Curtis, Kristen Yang, Thuy Mac, Erica Medina, Henry Moskal, Jodi Nussbaum, Ali Paksima, Linda Rothenberg, Steph Sosa, Joanna Weber, Anna Zagorski and all of the other tinkerers at Tinkercast HQ.
And to keep the wow rolling after you finish this episode, visit us at Tinkercast.com.
There you can become a member of the World Organization of Wowzers to get year-round mailings and weekly activities.
Shop our Wow Shop.
Get tickets for upcoming events, find our best-selling books and learn about some of the other amazing podcasts from Tinkercast.
Grownups, you can follow Wow in the World on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at Wow in the World.
And our email address is hello at Tinkercast.com.
And if you're a kid with a big wow to share with us, call us at 1-888-7-WOW-WOW for a chance to be featured at the end of our show or an upcoming episode of Two.
What's in a Wow?
Thanks again for listening.
We're here every Monday or you can check out Two What's in a Wow every Friday right here in the Wow in the World podcast feed.
And don't forget, we wow on The Weeknd with Dennis Saturday and Sunday.
Keep on wowing!
Wow in the World was made by Tinkercast and sent to you by Wondery.
