Kevin Cirilli sits down with Michael E. Young of Terran Orbital, one of the critical companies helping make NASA’s Artemis mission possible.

At the center of the conversation: a simple but mind-bending idea — you can’t live, work, or explore without GPS. And if humans are going to return to the Moon, build infrastructure there, and eventually go farther into space, we first need navigation, timing, and communications where none exist today.
Michael explains how Terran Orbital helped build CAPSTONE, the first satellite to operate in a unique lunar orbit without GPS support, proving that future astronauts, robots, and lunar bases can safely coordinate, communicate, and move on the Moon. He breaks down — in plain language — why satellites are getting smaller, smarter, and more powerful, and how those advances unlock everything from lunar logistics to deep-space exploration.

The conversation also looks ahead: how space infrastructure can reduce strain on Earth, enable asteroid mining, power data centers in orbit, and open new frontiers for science, medicine, and energy. Along the way, Michael explains why space security matters, how satellites are protected, and why being first on the Moon isn’t just symbolic — it’s about setting the rules for the future.
This episode is a reminder that mastering the Moon is not the end goal — it’s the training ground for humanity’s next great leap.

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