maybe just about. texan company intuitive machines become the first company to achieve this giant step for private commerce. we can see the pictures of the lunar surface — it was meant to land on a skm—high mountain on the moon called malapert. this could be a precursor to renewed efforts to land man back on the moon, and even space or moon tourism. doctor simon is from the interplanetary society. we haven't had confirmation just yet that they have got there. we think happen at any moment. what would it mean to see notjust the americans back on the moon, but also a commercial entity having driven that, is it any different for a government entity? absolutely, it is tremendously exciting. we have this tremendous opportunity, we are going back to the moon. i think that will create a lot of inspiration for the general public and for all industries involved. it is really paving the way to show a new way in which we

can explore space. a new way? space traditionally has been very challenging. it is a new activity, really. we have been doing it for decades, but really to do it more sustainably and cost effectively, i think we need to encourage commercial, the commercial sector to pick up space operations. so this is really encouraging that. for pick up space operations. so this is really encouraging that.— really encouraging that. for you, this is a precursor _ really encouraging that. for you, this is a precursor to _ really encouraging that. for you, this is a precursor to tourism, i this is a precursor to tourism, basically, is that what you are suggesting?— basically, is that what you are suggesting? basically, is that what you are su: caestin ? , ~ ., ., suggesting? yes, i think there are a number of avenues _ suggesting? yes, i think there are a number of avenues which _ suggesting? yes, i think there are a number of avenues which i - suggesting? yes, i think there are a number of avenues which i think - suggesting? yes, i think there are a number of avenues which i think we | number of avenues which i think we can go with space.— number of avenues which i think we can go with space. space tourism. we do have the — can go with space. space tourism. we do have the picture _ can go with space. space tourism. we do have the picture now _ can go with space. space tourism. we do have the picture now of _ can go with space. space tourism. we do have the picture now of the - do have the picture now of the control room, though not the actual moon. we think they are very, very close to touchdown, i2 moon. we think they are very, very close to touchdown, 12 minutes, so we will not sit on the programme, but nearly. we will not sit on the programme, but nearly-— but nearly. sorry, continue. the moon is a _ but nearly. sorry, continue. the moon is a really _ but nearly. sorry, continue. the moon is a really ambitious - but nearly. sorry, continue. the | moon is a really ambitious target and i think we can get there. but really, space tourism would start closer to earth. we can do it in orbit and it is going to require is

developing a lot of the hardware and activities to get us there safely first. so there is a lot of stepping stones that we can take, but the moon is a great aspiration. but tourism sounds interesting, fine, commercial, if you can make money out of it, fine. it doesn't sound as noble ambition is pure science, which is what most of the space activities have been centred on. exactly, these go hand—in—hand. a lot of them might have different objectives. space tourism is really an extension of the existing tourism market. but in the process of doing both tourism and exploration, you will be developing processes and hardware and mission operations that both support each other. that hardware and mission operations that both support each other.— both support each other. that is the simulation. — both support each other. that is the simulation. i _ both support each other. that is the simulation, i should _ both support each other. that is the simulation, i should say, _ both support each other. that is the simulation, i should say, before - both support each other. that is the simulation, i should say, before we| simulation, i should say, before we get too excited about that. ten minutes to go on this. but you think there is further economic opportunities like mining and things? opportunities like mining and thins? ,, ., ,, ., _ , ,

things? seriously? seriously, yes. obviously ultimately _ things? seriously? seriously, yes. obviously ultimately in _ things? seriously? seriously, yes. obviously ultimately in the - things? seriously? seriously, yes. obviously ultimately in the long i obviously ultimately in the long run, earth has a finite set of resources and it is partly about survival. but also, it is about our human nature driving as well. and i think exploring space and being able to utilise the multiple and plentiful resources could and will help life on earth as well as our future presence in space, but there are stepping stones to take with that. g are stepping stones to take with that. �* , , , , , ., are stepping stones to take with that. �* , ,, , , ., ., that. a few steps yet, before we are buildin: that. a few steps yet, before we are building factories _ that. a few steps yet, before we are building factories on _ that. a few steps yet, before we are building factories on the _ that. a few steps yet, before we are building factories on the main - building factories on the main holiday results! thank you to simon for that. that's all from us tonight. we didn't quite make it to the moon, that will be in about ten minutes. i'm back tomorrow. until then, goodnight.

sheffield city council says it took five years to consult on and draw up the masterplan because of covid and administration change. however, work will start next month to demolish a former care home. for more stories from across the uk, head to the bbc news website. - you're live with bbc news. let's take a look at some other stories in the headlines. palestinians in rafah say they've experienced some of the most intense israeli bombardment so far in gaza's southernmost city. another 97 people were killed over the past 2a hours according to the hamas—run gaza health ministry. israel says it will send negotiators to paris for talks on a potential deal to free hostages held by hamas. the meeting will also involve

officials from egypt, qatar and the united states. the us middle east envoy brett mcgurk, who was here in israel today, is understood to have told mr netanyahu that hamas' position has softened. we do not know the extent or the details of that softening, but clearly the government heard enough today to think that it is worth sending the massad boss and other top security chiefs to paris for those talks. the un agency for palestinian refugees is warning it has reached breaking point in a letter to the un general assembly. unrwa's chief philippe lazzarini says the agency's ability to fulfil its mandate was seriously threatened by israel's repeated calls to dismantle the agency and the freezing of funds from donors at a time of unprecedented humanitarian needs in gaza. indonesia has been struck by some of the strongest winds ever

recorded in the country, injuring at least 33 people. buildings were damaged as the winds tore through west java province. the mother of the russian opposition leader, alexei navalny, has finally been allowed to see his body almost a week after he died. the 47—year—old was being held in a remote penal colony in siberia. his death certificate says he died of natural causes. navalny�*s mother has accused the russian authorities of trying to blackmail her into a secret burial with no mourners. our security correspondent, frank gardner reports. alexei navalny, president putin's fiercest critic, dead for nearly a week. only now has his mother been given access to her son's body. she's been forced to sign a certificate saying he died of natural causes. translation:— to the law they should have given me his body immediately. but they didn't. instead, they blackmail me.

they put conditions where, when and how alexei should be buried. this is illegal. they receive orders either from the kremlin or from the central office of the investigative committee. navalny died in highly suspicious circumstances in this grim arctic penal colony known as polar wolf. he was only a7. his family and supporters believe he was murdered on orders from the kremlin, possibly with a novichok nerve agent. russia denies it. his mother has already spent days up in the arctic trying to get access to her son's body. the delays and official statements are adding to suspicions of a cover up. it appears the kremlin does not want navalny�*s body to leave russia forforensic testing. his mother is under pressure to agree to a secret funeral. translation: i'm recording this video because they started - threatening me, looking me in the eye. the investigator says that if i don't agree to a secret funeral,

they will do something with my son's body, the investigator openly told me, "time is not working for you. the corpses decompose. " i don't want special conditions. ijust want everything to be done according to the law. i demand receiving my son's body immediately. the kremlin is calling western reaction to navalny�*s death hysterical. but he was considered by many the best hope for a better future for russia. his enemies clearly wanted him gone. frank gardner, bbc news. china is set to send two pandas to san diego zoo this year in a return of so called �*panda diplomacy�*. the gesture is renewing the country's longstanding relationship with the conservation group and friendship towards the us. nearly all the bears on loan to zoos in america were returned as relations began to sour between the two nations. the china wildlife conservation association says it has also reached agreements with the madrid zoo in spain and is in talks with other zoos in both washington and vienna.

let's speak to greg vicino, vice president of wildlife care at san diego zoo. greg, tell me more about this announcement today. so greg, tell me more about this announcement today.- greg, tell me more about this announcement today. so it's pretty excitin: , announcement today. so it's pretty exciting. getting — announcement today. so it's pretty exciting, getting back— announcement today. so it's pretty exciting, getting back into - announcement today. so it's pretty exciting, getting back into the - exciting, getting back into the panda conservation world. it's something we did from the mid—90s to 2018, and it was really fruitful when it came to actual conservation outcomes and collaborations with our colleagues in china in terms of research, reproductive biology, anthropogenic impacts on the habitat that pandas live in, and it's pretty exciting to get back into that space and partner up with some former colleagues and really start to move that momentum again towards a really good outcome for the comfort starvation of that species. find good outcome for the comfort starvation of that species. and when will these bears _

starvation of that species. and when will these bears arrive, _ starvation of that species. and when will these bears arrive, and - starvation of that species. and when will these bears arrive, and what - will these bears arrive, and what has to be done before? we will these bears arrive, and what has to be done before?- has to be done before? we can't commit to _ has to be done before? we can't commit to a _ has to be done before? we can't commit to a date _ has to be done before? we can't commit to a date yet, _ has to be done before? we can't commit to a date yet, we - has to be done before? we can't commit to a date yet, we don't l commit to a date yet, we don't know that yet. one of the things we take very seriously when it comes to any sort of conservation initiatives like this, that involve multiple countries and all that, there are plenty of federal regulations, plenty of federal regulations, plenty of international laws about how you do this in the most appropriate way, the best possible way not only for the outcome for the individual animals but so that you're having a pot of his live impact on conservation of the species. we have our own fish and wildlife department that will scrutinise the permit, hopefully very thoroughly. we work very closely with them to make sure we are checking all the boxes, meeting all the requirements and making sure we're doing the absolute best we can both for the bears and conservation of the bears in the wild. and of course my chinese counterparts have to do the same. that process just started now, we got the agreement in place and now we have to start on the actual legal framework and the

permitting process to make sure that we're doing this in best possible interest of that conservation mission. �* , ., , mission. and tell us a little bit about san _ mission. and tell us a little bit about san diego _ mission. and tell us a little bit about san diego zoo, - mission. and tell us a little bit about san diego zoo, and - mission. and tell us a little bit - about san diego zoo, and perhaps why it's going to be the destination of the pandas. what's your track record for panda conservation?— the pandas. what's your track record for panda conservation? between 1996 and 2018 we had _ for panda conservation? between 1996 and 2018 we had five _ for panda conservation? between 1996 and 2018 we had five offspring - for panda conservation? between 1996 and 2018 we had five offspring born . and 2018 we had five offspring born to the pair of pandas that were living there and the vast majority of those will born through natural reproduction as opposed to artificial insemination, which is kind of a breakthrough in terms of having that level of reproductive success outside of china, it wasn't really heard of. so that was a big deal, and just recently i went through all of the citations of all of the literature will become a peer reviewed literature and all the contributions that are chinese counterparts and our research team, all the contributions they made to the scientific literature about, about those points we spoke about with regards to the research we were looking to connect with the bears there. so it was a pretty big

impact. we were on site, we were part of the bigger picture, bigger programme that of course covered all over the world of trying to get, have an impact on the status of those barriers and it went from endangered to threatened over the course of that time. of course we didn't do that alone, but these partnerships are essential to getting that done.— partnerships are essential to getting that done. partnerships are essential to caettin that done. , ., ~ getting that done. greg, thank you so much for— getting that done. greg, thank you so much for talking _ getting that done. greg, thank you so much for talking to _ getting that done. greg, thank you so much for talking to us _ getting that done. greg, thank you so much for talking to us today. i so much for talking to us today. all the best with the pandas, we look forward to seeing them arrive at san diego zoo. greg vicino, from the san diego zoo. let's go back now to those pictures from a private moon lander that is on track for a lunar landing, currently decending towards the surface. odysseus was built by intuitive machines, a company based in houston, texas. if the firm succeeds, it will be the first ever commercial venture to land on the moon. back with me now is brendan rosseau, teaching fellow & research associate, harvard business school at cambridge, massachusetts

and author of an upcoming book on the business and economics of space. we arejust moments we are just moments away as the craft slows down on its descent to the moon, what's going through your mind as you are sort of watching these images on our screen? it’s these images on our screen? it's such an these images on our screen? it�*s such an exciting moment, we are just over one minute away from what could potentially be the first commercial lunar lander in history and the first american spacecraft to end up in the moon in 50 years. this could be a new chapter in the commercial space economy which could extend now all the way to the moon. super exciting, we'll see if this thing works first. exciting, we'll see if this thing works first-— exciting, we'll see if this thing works first. the spacecraft has about an 8096 _ works first. the spacecraft has about an 80% chance - works first. the spacecraft has about an 80% chance of - works first. the spacecraft has. about an 80% chance of landing successfully. that's good odds by your estimation, it's always difficult to judge landing your estimation, it's always difficult tojudge landing on your estimation, it's always difficult to judge landing on the lunar surface. difficult to judge landing on the lunarsurface. i’ll

difficult to judge landing on the lunar surface.— lunar surface. i'll take his word for it on the — lunar surface. i'll take his word for it on the numbers. - lunar surface. i'll take his word for it on the numbers. it's - lunar surface. i'll take his word for it on the numbers. it's hard lunar surface. i'll take his word i for it on the numbers. it's hard to fathom just how hard a thing it is to land on the moon. imagine flying completely autonomously for a quarter million miles and then decelerate on a foreign body on a landing site that was not meant for humans to land there, it's just lunar geology. it's incredibly difficult and the moon has become a graveyard for would be attempts at lunar lander�*s, especially in recent years so it's a hugely difficult thing to pull off but it makes it all the more exciting if you are able to pull it off, especially for able to pull it off, especially for a young and dynamic company as intuitive machines. bud a young and dynamic company as intuitive machines.— intuitive machines. and we were talkin: a intuitive machines. and we were talking a little _ intuitive machines. and we were talking a little bit _ intuitive machines. and we were talking a little bit earlier - intuitive machines. and we were talking a little bit earlier about l talking a little bit earlier about this is a first step to a greater goal with nasa's artemis programme. tell us how significant this could be for that going forward. the goal ofthe be for that going forward. the goal of the artemis _ be for that going forward. the goal of the artemis programme, - be for that going forward. the goal of the artemis programme, it's - be for that going forward. the goal of the artemis programme, it's a l of the artemis programme, it's a multiyear, multi—million dollar programme run by nasa with international partners, and the goal is to establish for the first time a permanent presence on the moon, specifically near the south pole. to

establish a permanent presence on the moon you need to bring a whole host of things with you. you need scientific payloads, needed equipment and materials to sustain human life and expiration. there is an unfathomable amount of material and scientific equipment you need to bring. now, nasa is looking to the commercial sector to be able to provide at lunar services, that is transportation services, ability to bring their scientific payloads and their equipment to the moon at a bargain. if they are able to pull it off they could pay huge dividends not only for nasa which could reap cost savings that could be huge, but other companies interested in setting up shop and creating what could be a lunar economy, is potentially in the long term transforming the moon into something like an eighth continent here for us on earth. we are a long, long way away from that, but it's events like today that will be the steps to getting there. today that will be the steps to getting there-— today that will be the steps to getting there. today that will be the steps to heflin there, . ., .., , , ., getting there. what constitutes a successful landing _ getting there. what constitutes a successful landing in _ getting there. what constitutes a successful landing in your- getting there. what constitutes a successful landing in your mind? | successful landing in your mind?

obviously not toppling over when it hits the surface. we understand there is less than one km to go before it touches down, as the images we see from the control room as these, so that the nasa officials are watching this play out. your thoughts on what constitutes a successful landing?— thoughts on what constitutes a successful landing? sure, anything short of creating _ successful landing? sure, anything short of creating a _ successful landing? sure, anything short of creating a new _ successful landing? sure, anything short of creating a new creator - successful landing? sure, anything short of creating a new creator on | short of creating a new creator on the moon will be a successful landing. with the projects are difficult as this, regardless of the outcome, intuitive machines is going to get so much valuable data and valuable experience so even if it doesn't succeed the way they want, bringing a lunar lander safely down to the moon and surviving for 1h lunar days, i think they are still going to learn a lot and it will be a really rewarding and valuable experience. that being said, everyone is hoping that this lunar lander gets on the ground and succeeds the way they want. so after a “ourne succeeds the way they want. so after a journey of —

succeeds the way they want. so after a journey of 402,000 _ succeeds the way they want. so after a journey of 402,000 km, _ succeeds the way they want. so after a journey of 402,000 km, the - succeeds the way they want. so after a journey of 402,000 km, the lunar | a journey of 402,000 km, the lunar lander odysseus is expected to touch down in just a few moments time. we'll be bringing you live coverage on bbc news of that event happening, and we are in for speaking with brendan russo, he is a teaching fellow and associate at harvard business school at cambridge, massachusetts. you have an upcoming book on the business and economics of space, this is a big part of it, notjust for the science of it all. there is a business case for this as well, isn't there?— well, isn't there? where in the midst of a _ well, isn't there? where in the midst of a commercial - well, isn't there? where in the l midst of a commercial revolution well, isn't there? where in the - midst of a commercial revolution in space flight. it is transforming not only how we use based on the value we derive from it, but also increasingly a huge number of activities here on earth. it was not too long ago that a young company cold space x was trying to launch rockets for the first time, lo and behold a decade later they are creating satellite constellations that are redefining how we live and work here on earth. we seem good

evidence of that, specifically in the conflict in ukraine. so we are seeing a transformation and revolution here close to earth, and what space flight can do for us, and what space flight can do for us, and what today represents is an effort to push that all the way out potentially to the moon, so hugely exciting, high—stakes, but it looks like intuitive machines is on track, at least as of right now. as]!!! like intuitive machines is on track, at least as of right now.— at least as of right now. all right brendan. we _ at least as of right now. all right brendan, we have _ at least as of right now. all right brendan, we have to _ at least as of right now. all right brendan, we have to watch - at least as of right now. all right l brendan, we have to watch closely on this, thank you for talking to me today. brendan russo from harvard business school. we'll have the highlights of this lunar landing as it happens in our later bulletins as well, thanks forjoining us here on bbc news.

this is bbc news. we'll have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, as newsday continues straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. last year, during a brief visit to belfast, presidentjoe biden hailed the transformative impact of peace in northern ireland. it had unleashed, he said, a churn of creativity and that surely struck a chord with my guest today, the actor ciaran hinds, who was nominated for an oscar in kenneth branagh's autobiographical movie

about belfast, which is home city to both of those men.