Bonus: Artemis II & The Launch That Changes Our Future with Ben Bailey

Today is one of those days that changes the trajectory of everything.

As Artemis II launches humanity back beyond low Earth orbit for the first time in over 50 years, we’re marking the moment with a special bonus episode of Aspiring Martians.

Because this mission isn’t just about going to the Moon. It’s about proving we can go further.

Artemis II will send astronauts around the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, testing the systems, endurance, and operations that will define the next era of human spaceflight. It’s the bridge between where we’ve been… and where we’re going next.

And that next step includes Mars.

To help bring that future into focus, I’m joined by Ben Bailey, a member of NASA’s 2025 Astronaut Candidate Class Group 24, aka “the Platypi”.

Ben’s path to NASA is anything but typical. From building nuclear propulsion systems for aircraft carriers, to flying Black Hawk helicopters in high-risk environments, to becoming an experimental test pilot pushing aircraft to their limits, his career sits at the intersection of engineering, exploration, and extreme performance.

Now, he’s training for missions that could take him to the Moon… and eventually beyond.

This is a short but powerful conversation about what it takes to become an astronaut, what Artemis means for the future of exploration, and how close we really are to becoming a multi-planetary species.

Because today isn’t just a launch.

It’s a beginning.

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