The Artemis program isn’t just NASA’s return to the Moon — it’s the foundation for humanity’s multi-planetary future.

In this episode of HELLO FUTURE, Kevin Cirilli sits down with Rich Cooper of the Space Foundation to break down Artemis II, the first crewed mission of the Artemis era. Slated to send four astronauts around the Moon aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft atop the powerful Space Launch System rocket, Artemis II represents the most significant step in human space exploration since Apollo 17 more than 50 years ago.

Cirilli and Cooper explore why this mission matters far beyond headlines: how it tests critical deep-space systems in the harsh radiation and thermal environment of cislunar space, paves the way for a sustained lunar presence, and accelerates the technologies needed for eventual Mars missions. They discuss the international partnerships powering Artemis, the growing role of commercial space companies, the strategic importance of cislunar space, and what successful execution of Artemis II will mean for America’s leadership in space, scientific discovery, and inspiring the next generation of explorers.

From lunar gateways and resource utilization to national security implications in orbit, this conversation reveals why Artemis II is a pivotal moment that will shape humanity’s expansion into the solar system.

If Apollo showed us we could go to the Moon, Artemis II is proof that we’re going back to stay — and that the future of human spaceflight is closer than it has ever been.

Find all of the latest HELLO FUTURE episodes at mtf.tv.

Kevin Cirilli, former chief Washington correspondent for Bloomberg TV and Radio, founded mtf.tv. His work has appeared on Bloomberg News, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business Network, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, C-SPAN, and more.