This Week in Space 183: Lunar Lander Wanted! Apply Within
Lander, lander, who's got the lander? Last week, acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy announced that the agency would be re-opening the contract for the Artemis III lunar lander, which had previously been let to SpaceX to be fulfilled by their Starship Human Landing System. Unfortunately, that effort is well behind schedule, and the Trump administration has made landing astronauts on the moon, before China does, a national priority. With multiple refuelings and landing tests required, there is concern that SpaceX may not be able to fulfill their commitment before China's announced landing date of 2030. Elon Musk responded to the announcement with characteristic tack, with phrasing like "Sean Dummy" and him having a two-digit IQ. Mike Wall of Space.com joins us to dive into this rapidly evolving story.
Headlines:
• Texas vs. the Smithsonian: The Fight Over Space Shuttle Discovery Heats Up
• Artemis II Moon Rocket Fully Assembled, Awaits Rollout
• California Senator Pushes State Funding to Support JPL Amid Federal Cuts
• SpaceX Sets Record with 139 Launches, ULA Struggles to Keep Up
• New Super-Earth Discovered Just 20 Light Years Away Near Gemini
Main Topic: The Lunar Lander Dilemma for Artemis III and Beyond
• NASA Acting Chief Sean Duffy Announces Reopening Artemis III Lunar Lander Contract
• SpaceX's Starship Faces Orbital Refueling Challenges and Timeline Doubts
• Blue Origin Lurking in the Wings: Can They Deliver a Lander On Time?
• Political Pressures: China's Moon Plans Drive US Urgency
• Spacesuit Development Delays Threaten Artemis Timelines
• NASA's Budget Woes and Layoffs Cloud Roadmap for Future Moon Missions
• Speculation on Jared Isaacman's Potential Leadership of NASA
• Broader Uncertainty Over Artemis IV, V, and Long-Term Lunar Strategy
Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik
Guest: Mike Wall
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Tech News Weekly 410: Samsung's $1,799 Answer to Vision Pro
Emily Forlini of PCMag joins Mikah Sargent on Tech News Weekly! Microsoft launched its fall feature drop for Copilot, including a new AI avatar called Mico. Amazon is making headlines with its robotic automation efforts and also unveiled new AR smart glasses for delivery drivers. Jason Howell stops by to discuss Samsung's new Galaxy XR headset, their answer to Apple's Vision Pro.
Emily discusses Microsoft's new AI avatar Mico, introduced as part of Copilot's fall feature drop with 12 new features, including group project tools and health Q&A. Emily and Mikah debate whether anyone actually wants 'real talk' with a chatbot.
Mikah covers Amazon's continued automation push, replacing warehouse positions with robots as the company expands its use of robotics throughout its logistics operations. Emily weighs in with her inside knowledge on what this means for real workers.
Jason Howell joins to talk about Samsung's new $1,799 Galaxy XR headset positioning itself as a direct competitor to Apple's Vision Pro. He explains why built-in Gemini AI makes it special and why smart glasses might ultimately beat big VR headsets.
Mikah dives into Amazon's new AR smart glasses designed for delivery drivers, featuring hands-free navigation, package scanning, hazard detection, and automatic proof-of-delivery photo capture—all displayed directly in the driver's field of view.
Hosts: Mikah Sargent and Emily Forlini
Guest: Jason Howell
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Home Theater Geeks 505: Tron: Ares in IMAX 3D
Tron: Ares is the third installment in the Tron franchise from Disney, which spans over 40 years. Scott Wilkinson saw it in IMAX 3D and gives his review here. Is it worth $25 or more to see it in IMAX?
Host: Scott Wilkinson
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Hands-On Windows 163: Gaming on ARM PCs
Is Windows 11 on ARM finally ready for gaming? Paul Thurrott puts new Snapdragon-powered laptops to the test with both classics and demanding titles, revealing some unexpected wins and ongoing hurdles.
Host: Paul Thurrott
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Hands-On Apple 205: Take Actions in macOS Tahoe With Spotlight
This episode demonstrates how Spotlight's new "actions" feature quietly transforms your workflow, adapting to the app you're using and what you copy, delivering shortcuts you never knew you needed. Discover how to create lightning-fast quick keys in Spotlight, letting you instantly send emails, print documents, or launch commands in your favorite apps.
Spotlight actions get personal—suggestions adapt to your app usage
Third-party apps feed custom actions into Spotlight
Actions adapt to your current app like Photos & Notes
Context-aware Spotlight pulls menu bar commands and clipboard data
Quick Keys for Spotlight actions let you set up fast shortcuts
Real-world examples: creating shortcuts for email, Finder, and printer tasks
Spotlight actions connect workflows—print PDFs and automate simple actions
Host: Mikah Sargent
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Leo Laporte brings some of the most interesting personalities in technology together to talk about the most important issues. Fun, relaxed, informative and always entertaining, count on TWiT for the best tech podcasts in the world.
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