This chapter discusses the recent launch of a spacecraft designed to touch down on the moon, marking the first attempt in over 50 years. The rocket, called Vulcan Sentor, was launched from Cape Canaveral and carried a moonlander made by Astrobotik, a small company in Pittsburgh. The chapter also mentions the new business model for moon landing and the successful initial stages of the mission.
America seems to be in a best-of-worlds scenario: growth is outpacing expectations even as inflation keeps falling—how will the party end? This week’s loss of the Peregrine One Moon lander was disappointing, but our correspondent sees the good news from the launch (9:19). And how Japan’s geishas are modernising their trade in order to keep it alive (17:35).
Sign up for a free trial of Economist Podcasts+. If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your account.