Ryan Bridge: There's a new space race kicking off - I'm here for it

Is there anything more thrilling than watching two countries battle hammer and tong to achieve something we all dreamed impossible, until it happens?

Like going to he moon in the 60s (provided, of course, you think they actually went there). 

It's like the science Olympics crossed with geopolitical Hunger Games.

This time it's a bit like last time, but with the US on one team and China/Russia working together on the other. 

They want to install nuclear reactors on the surface of the moon, 400km away. The US wants it done by 2030. China and Russia are aiming for early 2030s. 

The scientists are hoping everybody'll come together and co-operate up there like we do with the ISS. 

But, the politicians have other plans. This is about nationalism, defence and territory. 

Everyone wants to be the first because there are currently no laws or treaties for colonising the moon. It's basically first come, first served. 

And they reckon whoever builds the first reactor for electricity can basically bags an area, and build its base close by. He who gets there first, wins. Basically. 

The moon is quite important to earth, as you know. The seasons, our crops, our ocean, our entire lives a tied to that thing. 

But if you look at it closely, it's already coved in giant craters - so big you can see them from earth. So even if these guys do blow something up, one's one more crater? 

I'm frothing to see this new age space race get underway.

The most interesting question is: what happens if it's not a country that gets there first, but one of those weirdo billionaires and their space toys?

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
There's a new space race kicking off, and I am
absolutely here for it. Is there anything more thrilling than
watching two countries battle at hammer and tong to achieve
something that we all dreamed and thought impossible until it happens,
like going to the Moon, provided of course you think
we actually went there. It's like the Science Olympics crossed

(00:21):
with the geopolitical Hunger Games. This is what makes it
so fascinating. This time, it's a bit like last time,
but with the US on one team China Russia working
together on the other. And they want to install these
nuclear reactors on the surface of the Moon some four
hundred thousand kilometers away the US. Once it done by
twenty thirty China, Russia they are aiming for your early

(00:43):
twenty thirties, So it's a real race. The scientists are
hoping everybody will come together and combai and cooperate like
they do with the International Space Station once they're up there.
But of course the politicians have other plans, don't they.
This is about nationalism, it's about defense and territory. Everyone
wants to be the first because there are actually currently

(01:06):
no laws or treaties for colonizing the Moon. It's basically
first come, first served, and they reckon. Whoever builds the
first reactor for electricity can basically bags that area and
build their base close by. He who gets their first winds. Basically,
the Moon, as you know, quite important to us here

(01:28):
on Earth, isn't it. The seasons, the crops, the oceans,
Our entire lives are tied to this thing that hangs
in the sky. But if you look at it closely,
it's actually already covered in giant craters so big you
can see them from Earth. So even if these guys
do blow something up, what's one more crater? You know?
I'm basically frothing at the chomping at the bit here

(01:51):
to see the New Age space race get underway. The
most interesting question, I think is what happens if it's
not a country that gets there first but one of
those weird oh billionaires and their space toys. For more
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