NASA names Artemis III crew for next big step on journey back to the moon

NASA today announced the four-member crew for its upcoming Artemis III mission, a critical step in humanity's planned return to the lunar surface. The astronauts selected are NASA Commander Randy Bresnik, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut and Pilot Luca Parmitano, and NASA Mission Specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio. Robert Hines from NASA will serve as the backup crew member.

Scheduled for a late 2027 launch, Artemis III has been redefined as a crewed Earth orbital test flight, rather than a lunar landing, to demonstrate essential technologies. The mission's primary objective is to test rendezvous and docking procedures between the Orion spacecraft and commercially developed human landing systems from SpaceX and Blue Origin in low Earth orbit. This nearly two-week mission will provide vital rehearsal for future lunar expeditions, with Artemis IV now slated for the first crewed lunar landing in 2028.

This complex mission, launching aboard the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, underscores NASA's strategic progression towards establishing a sustainable human presence on the Moon and ultimately advancing exploration to Mars.