Back to the Moon: How Artemis II Sets the Stage for the Next Era of Missions

Humanity is heading back to the Moon—and Artemis II is the mission that makes it real. In this SETI Live, host Simon Steel is joined by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens, assistant research scientist at NASA Goddard, to explore how Artemis II will prepare the way for future astronaut missions. Artemis II isn’t landing on the Moon—but it is laying the groundwork. From mapping the lunar environment to understanding how radiation, extreme cold, and surface conditions affect both spacecraft and humans, this mission is a crucial scouting expedition. The data gathered will directly inform how astronauts live, work, and explore when boots return to lunar soil. Together, we’ll unpack how lunar scientists are using Artemis II to test assumptions, close knowledge gaps, and turn decades of robotic exploration into a sustainable human presence beyond Earth. This is the Moon as a proving ground—not just for technology, but for the future of deep-space exploration. #ArtemisII #MoontoMars #Moon #LunarMission #Orion #CrewedMission #Spaceflight #Space #Science 📺 SETI Live is a weekly livestream from the SETI Institute, featuring researchers and discoveries that deepen our understanding of the universe—and our place within it. If you like science, support the SETI Institute! We're a non-profit research institution focused on understanding the nature and origins of life in the universe. 💸 Donate here: https://seti.org/donate Learn more about the SETI Institute and stay up-to-date on awesome science: 🛎 Subscribe to our YouTube channel at    / setiinstitute   🕹 Watch our streams over on Twitch at   / setiinstitute   🎧 Listen to our podcast https://feeds.libsyn.com/462636/rss 📧 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter https://seti.org/signup 👕 Buy merchandise from Chop Shop https://www.chopshopstore.com/collect... Don't forget to like and subscribe! Ring the bell for notifications of when we go live.