John "Danny" Olivas is a former NASA astronaut, author and forensic engineer who now works in mission assurance at Intuitive Machines. In this Astro Ben Podcast interview, host Ben Gamble talks with him about the company's IM-2 lunar lander mission, which was planned for early 2025 and aimed at a landing near the Moon's south pole.
Danny explains the technology riding on IM-2, including NASA's PRIME-1 drill, Nokia's Lunar Surface Communications System and the Micro Nova Hopper, and what it means to bring the first cellular network to the Moon. He also looks at the difficulties of landing at the south pole, the role of engineering in lunar infrastructure, where IM-2 fits within NASA's Artemis program, and the path from IM-2 to IM-4.
Looking back on his own NASA career, he shares what spacewalks and space shuttle repair missions were like, and how spaceflight experience shapes everyday life. If you follow the commercial Moon race, Artemis or astronaut stories, this is a good one. For more, hear Kate van Dam of SkyFi on geospatial data or Jonathan McDowell on tracking space objects, or browse the full Astro Ben Podcast archive.
What you will hear
The IM-2 lunar lander mission and its landing site near the Moon's south pole
PRIME-1, Nokia's Lunar Surface Communications System and the Micro Nova Hopper
The first cellular network on the Moon
IM-2's place in Artemis and the path from IM-2 to IM-4
Danny's spacewalks and shuttle repair missions
Humanity's relationship with the Moon
Guest links
Danny Olivas, Intuitive Machines, NASA: IM-2 mission details
Listen
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