🌕 When rockets ignite and nations race back to the Moon, whose dreams and risks take flight with them? Researchers warn that without inclusive governance; the Moon could become “a new arena for old patterns of exclusion” Who decides who benefits from lunar exploration, and how will billions in South Asia, Africa, and beyond make their voices heard? 🚀🌍 In this compelling episode of Chai on the Moon we dive into these stakes from a Global South perspective, asking: can space really be for all? Across the globe, a lunar boom is underway. NASA’s Artemis program is gearing up to return humans to the Moon by 2025, China and Russia plan joint lunar bases, and India recently became the first country to soft-land at the Moon’s South Pole. Even Africa has joined the race: on April 20, 2025, the African Union inaugurated the African Space Agency in Cairo’s Space City. With missions multiplying and billions on the line, this conversation is urgent, especially for South Asia and Africa, regions eager for a fair share of space’s promise. 🌐🚀 Key Questions: ⦁ 🤔 Who decides the rules of the new space race, and will Global South countries have a voice? ⦁ 🌐 How can communities in India, Nigeria, and elsewhere ensure they benefit from lunar resources and exploration? ⦁🌙 When humans reach the Moon’s south pole, will people from Lahore, Lagos, and Dhaka share in the adventure? What You’ll Learn: ⦁ 🌍 Global South risks & opportunities: Understanding the strategic, economic, and ethical stakes of lunar exploration for emerging space nations. ⦁ 🤝 Inclusion & representation: Strategies to ensure diverse voices (South Asian, African, Indigenous, etc.) shape space decisions. ⦁ 🌟 Hope & lunar futures: Reflecting on how an equitable Moon program can inspire communities and benefit life on Earth. ✅ Why It Matters: Beyond science and technology, this conversation reminds us that space exploration is a deeply human endeavor. It shows why giving everyone a seat at the table, from Chennai to Johannesburg, is essential: because when people see themselves in the next giant leap, they share in its inspiration and promise. 🌍💫 🎙 About Our Guest: Prof. Prajval Shastri (Astrophysicist, India): A veteran Indian astronomer (retired from IIAP, Bangalore) with decades of research on black holes and galaxies. She is a passionate educator and communicator, writing and speaking about astronomy literacy and science equity. Dr. Samuel Oyewole (Space Policy Expert, Nigeria/South Africa): A political scientist and space policy scholar. He is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Pretoria and lecturer in Nigeria, focusing on African space programs and security. Ramasamy Venugopal (IAU OAD, India/South Africa): Operations & Programs Manager at the International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development. He oversees global astronomy-for-development grants and projects in 100+ countries. 👨‍🚀 About the Host: Dr. Salman Hameed holds a PhD in astronomy and serves as the Charles Taylor Chair and Professor of Integrated Science & Humanities at Hampshire College. He is also a faculty member of the Five College Astronomy Department (FCAD) in Massachusetts, USA. Beyond academia, he is the CEO of Kainaat Studios, a non-profit dedicated to science communication and outreach. 🌌✨ #moon #southasia #globalsouth #discussion #panel #astrophysics ##nasa #documentary #podcast #lunar #astronomynews #astronomyadventures #astronomy #pakistan #southasia #space #spaceexploration #spacex #interview #nonprofit #spacelaw #humanfuture #isro #spaceethics Subscribe to our NEW Kids English Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCdIRtt8-Og1q99bkK5XBhoQ Subscribe to our Kids Urdu Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCDt7wgStPBzuxtcAf2qqnkg Subscribe to our Urdu Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UClJlxaRQLPsx0gPIHgIZffw For more information about Kainaat Studios: https://www.kainaatstudios.com/ Sign up to our mailing list to get unseen content and hear special announcements! https://www.kainaatstudios.com/newsletter Follow us for more: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kainaatstudios Twitter https://twitter.com/KainaatStudios Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kainaatstudios/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kainaatstudios LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/kainaat Credits: Written & Hosted by: Salman Hameed Edited by: Shehryar Shaikh Music: “Kainaat” by Umer Piracha Subtitles by: DigiCircle Galactic Orbiters (Founding Supporters): Sahr Foundation, Dr. Zafar Iqbal & Dr. Mehr Iqbal, Qazi Family Foundation and PixelEdge Stellar Orbiters: AIIR Foundation, Ashraf Qazi, Aimen Khan, Slavena Emilova Molle and Abid & Farah Donation Fund Space Orbiters: Dr. Abdul Nadir, Dr. Asad Ansari, Dr. Salman Mallick, Dr. Tariq Hameed, Asif Alam, Zubair Faiz, Dr. Kamran Manzoor, Dr. Arsalan Malik and Junaid Qurashi Thank you to all our other monthly donors as well! If you wish to donate, please visit: https://www.kainaatstudios.com/donate

🌕 When rockets ignite and nations race back to the Moon, whose dreams and risks take flight with them? Researchers warn that without inclusive governance; the Moon could become “a new arena for old patterns of exclusion” Who decides who benefits from lunar exploration, and how will billions in South Asia, Africa, and beyond make their voices heard? 🚀🌍 In this compelling episode of Chai on the Moon we dive into these stakes from a Global South perspective, asking: can space really be for all? Across the globe, a lunar boom is underway. NASA’s Artemis program is gearing up to return humans to the Moon by 2025, China and Russia plan joint lunar bases, and India recently became the first country to soft-land at the Moon’s South Pole. Even Africa has joined the race: on April 20, 2025, the African Union inaugurated the African Space Agency in Cairo’s Space City. With missions multiplying and billions on the line, this conversation is urgent, especially for South Asia and Africa, regions eager for a fair share of space’s promise. 🌐🚀 Key Questions: ⦁ 🤔 Who decides the rules of the new space race, and will Global South countries have a voice? ⦁ 🌐 How can communities in India, Nigeria, and elsewhere ensure they benefit from lunar resources and exploration? ⦁🌙 When humans reach the Moon’s south pole, will people from Lahore, Lagos, and Dhaka share in the adventure? What You’ll Learn: ⦁ 🌍 Global South risks & opportunities: Understanding the strategic, economic, and ethical stakes of lunar exploration for emerging space nations. ⦁ 🤝 Inclusion & representation: Strategies to ensure diverse voices (South Asian, African, Indigenous, etc.) shape space decisions. ⦁ 🌟 Hope & lunar futures: Reflecting on how an equitable Moon program can inspire communities and benefit life on Earth. ✅ Why It Matters: Beyond science and technology, this conversation reminds us that space exploration is a deeply human endeavor. It shows why giving everyone a seat at the table, from Chennai to Johannesburg, is essential: because when people see themselves in the next giant leap, they share in its inspiration and promise. 🌍💫 🎙 About Our Guest: Prof. Prajval Shastri (Astrophysicist, India): A veteran Indian astronomer (retired from IIAP, Bangalore) with decades of research on black holes and galaxies. She is a passionate educator and communicator, writing and speaking about astronomy literacy and science equity. Dr. Samuel Oyewole (Space Policy Expert, Nigeria/South Africa): A political scientist and space policy scholar. He is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Pretoria and lecturer in Nigeria, focusing on African space programs and security. Ramasamy Venugopal (IAU OAD, India/South Africa): Operations & Programs Manager at the International Astronomical Union’s Office of Astronomy for Development. He oversees global astronomy-for-development grants and projects in 100+ countries. 👨‍🚀 About the Host: Dr. Salman Hameed holds a PhD in astronomy and serves as the Charles Taylor Chair and Professor of Integrated Science & Humanities at Hampshire College. He is also a faculty member of the Five College Astronomy Department (FCAD) in Massachusetts, USA. Beyond academia, he is the CEO of Kainaat Studios, a non-profit dedicated to science communication and outreach. 🌌✨ #moon #southasia #globalsouth #discussion #panel #astrophysics ##nasa #documentary #podcast #lunar #astronomynews #astronomyadventures #astronomy #pakistan #southasia #space #spaceexploration #spacex #interview #nonprofit #spacelaw #humanfuture #isro #spaceethics Subscribe to our NEW Kids English Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCdIRtt8-Og1q99bkK5XBhoQ Subscribe to our Kids Urdu Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCDt7wgStPBzuxtcAf2qqnkg Subscribe to our Urdu Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UClJlxaRQLPsx0gPIHgIZffw For more information about Kainaat Studios: https://www.kainaatstudios.com/ Sign up to our mailing list to get unseen content and hear special announcements! https://www.kainaatstudios.com/newsletter Follow us for more: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kainaatstudios Twitter https://twitter.com/KainaatStudios Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kainaatstudios/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kainaatstudios LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/kainaat Credits: Written & Hosted by: Salman Hameed Edited by: Shehryar Shaikh Music: “Kainaat” by Umer Piracha Subtitles by: DigiCircle Galactic Orbiters (Founding Supporters): Sahr Foundation, Dr. Zafar Iqbal & Dr. Mehr Iqbal, Qazi Family Foundation and PixelEdge Stellar Orbiters: AIIR Foundation, Ashraf Qazi, Aimen Khan, Slavena Emilova Molle and Abid & Farah Donation Fund Space Orbiters: Dr. Abdul Nadir, Dr. Asad Ansari, Dr. Salman Mallick, Dr. Tariq Hameed, Asif Alam, Zubair Faiz, Dr. Kamran Manzoor, Dr. Arsalan Malik and Junaid Qurashi Thank you to all our other monthly donors as well! If you wish to donate, please visit: https://www.kainaatstudios.com/donate

🚀 The Moon is getting crowded—but who decides what stays protected forever and what gets left behind? As space agencies and private companies from around the world rush to establish their lunar presence—🇮🇳 India's Chandrayaan missions, 🇨🇳 China's Chang'e program, 🇺🇸 America's Artemis initiative, and more—critical questions emerge about humanity's shared legacy in space. 🌍 Who has the authority to protect our collective heritage beyond Earth? 🏛️ What laws govern the preservation of historic sites like Apollo landing zones or future lunar settlements? ⚖️ Should we establish universal standards for lunar heritage protection before it's too late? In this compelling episode of "Chai on the Moon," astrophysicist and host Dr. Salman Hameed welcomes Prof. Michelle Hanlon, Co-Director of the Center for Air and Space Law and a pioneering voice in space law and heritage ethics. 💬 Their conversation explores: - Why current space law is struggling to keep pace with rapid lunar development - What meaningful international cooperation might look like in practice - The ethical and cultural responsibilities facing future lunar settlers - How South Asia's growing space presence shapes the global conversation 🌖🇵🇰🇮🇳 🎙️ This isn't just about rockets and rovers—it's about ethics, identity, and defining humanity's future among the stars. Perfect for science enthusiasts, space policy watchers, students, policymakers, or anyone curious about our species' next chapter beyond Earth. 🎙 About Our Guest: Professor Michelle Hanlon is revolutionizing how we think about space law and protecting our cosmic heritage! She holds a law degree and serves as Executive Director of Space Law at the University of Mississippi, tackling the big questions: Who owns what in space? How do we protect historic lunar landing sites? Professor Hanlon co-founded For All Moonkind, the world's only organization fighting to preserve human heritage in outer space. She's also the editorial voice behind two major legal journals covering space and drone law and works directly with the UN to shape policies for responsible space exploration. Leading a global network of 100+ experts, she's pioneering legal frameworks for everything from orbital debris cleanup to lunar heritage protection zones. 🚀⚖️ 👨‍🚀 About the Host: Dr. Salman Hameed holds a PhD in astronomy and serves as the Charles Taylor Chair and Professor of Integrated Science & Humanities at Hampshire College. He is also a faculty member of the Five College Astronomy Department (FCAD) in Massachusetts, USA. Beyond academia, he is the CEO of Kainaat Studios, a non-profit dedicated to science communication and outreach. 🌌✨ #moon #apollo11 #nasa #documentary #podcast #lunar #astronomynews #astronomyadventures #astronomy #pakistan #southasia #space #spaceexploration #spacerace #spacex #interview #nonprofit #spacelaw #humanfuture #isro #spaceethics Subscribe to our NEW Kids English Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCdIRtt8-Og1q99bkK5XBhoQ Subscribe to our Kids Urdu Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UCDt7wgStPBzuxtcAf2qqnkg Subscribe to our Urdu Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UClJlxaRQLPsx0gPIHgIZffw For more information about Kainaat Studios: https://www.kainaatstudios.com/ Sign up to our mailing list to get unseen content and hear special announcements! https://www.kainaatstudios.com/newsletter Follow us for more: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kainaatstudios Twitter https://twitter.com/KainaatStudios Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kainaatstudios/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@kainaatstudios LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/kainaat Credits: Written & Hosted by: Salman Hameed Edited by: Shehryar Shaikh Music: “Kainaat” by Umer Piracha Subtitles by: DigiCircle Galactic Orbiters (Founding Supporters): Sahr Foundation, Dr. Zafar Iqbal & Dr. Mehr Iqbal, Qazi Family Foundation and PixelEdge Stellar Orbiters: AIIR Foundation, Ashraf Qazi, Aimen Khan, Slavena Emilova Molle and Abid & Farah Donation Fund Space Orbiters: Dr. Abdul Nadir, Dr. Asad Ansari, Dr. Salman Mallick, Dr. Tariq Hameed, Asif Alam, Zubair Faiz, Dr. Kamran Manzoor, Dr. Arsalan Malik and Junaid Qurashi Thank you to all our other monthly donors as well! If you wish to donate, please visit: https://www.kainaatstudios.com/donate