Jeanette Epps on Artemis: “The Future Is Definitely Now”
10 Apr 2026
As NASA prepares to return humans to the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years, former astronaut and APB speaker Jeanette Epps is offering a powerful perspective on what this next chapter—Artemis—really means. The Artemis II mission will send four astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, marking the first time since 1972 that humans will travel to and view its far side. While the crew will not land, the mission represents a critical step forward in deep space exploration.
For Epps, the significance is clear. “The future is definitely, definitely now,” she said, reflecting on the mission and its impact. “We’re going to start building on the moon… and everything that we learn there, we’re going to take… to Mars,” Epps explained.
Even as a retired astronaut, Epps remains closely connected to the mission—and to the people behind it. She trained alongside members of the Artemis II crew and emphasized the strength of their collaboration, noting the importance of teamwork, trust and shared experience in high-stakes environments.
“We do only have one planet… we really do need to take care of each other,” she said.
That dual focus—exploring what’s next while protecting what we have—is central to Artemis. The mission is not about leaving Earth behind, but about expanding human potential while reinforcing the importance of stewardship, collaboration and global responsibility.
As Artemis moves forward, Jeanette Epps continues to translate the complexity of space exploration into powerful, human-centered insights, reminding audiences that innovation, resilience and perspective are what ultimately drive progress.
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