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The Artemis III crew, from left to right: Andre Douglas, Luca Parmitano, Randy Bresnik, and Frank Rubio (Image credit: NASA)Share this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleSubscribe to our newsletter
NASA has revealed the crew members designated for its forthcoming Artemis III expedition, an endeavor the space agency characterizes as one of the most intricate in history.
The four-person team will comprise NASA commander Randy Bresnik, ESA astronaut and pilot Luca Parmitano, and NASA mission specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio. Robert Hines will serve as the NASA backup crew member. Slated for 2027, this subsequent phase of NASA’s lunar initiative will transport astronauts into low Earth orbit to evaluate one or both commercial lunar landers developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin.
Should the orbital test proceed as anticipated, it will pave the way for the subsequent mission, Artemis IV, which in 2028 is set to return Americans to the lunar surface for the first time in 54 years, assuming NASA adheres to its most recent Artemis timeline.
The mission duration is planned to span nearly two weeks, an extension of four days beyond Artemis II’s 10-day journey. This extended period will afford NASA additional opportunities to assess crucial life support systems and in-flight docking procedures.
Furthermore, NASA has substantial objectives tied to Artemis III beyond its human occupants. The space agency harbors an ambitious strategy to establish a sustained human presence on the moon in the coming years. However, for astronauts to return to the lunar surface, NASA is dependent on SpaceX and Blue Origin, both tasked with developing lunar landers and both having encountered significant recent setbacks.
Meet the crew
The Artemis III astronauts acknowledge the audience onstage at NASA’s June 9 press briefing. Pictured from left to right: NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano, and NASA astronauts Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas.
(Image credit: NASA)
Luca Parmitano, a European Space Agency astronaut, will assume the role of pilot for Artemis III. Parmitano holds the distinction of being the first Italian commander of the International Space Station.
“I extend my apologies in advance should I become emotional. First and foremost, I am deeply grateful,” Parmitano stated at a press conference on June 9. “I am thankful that NASA has granted me the opportunity to be part of this exceptional assembly of individuals, this crew, and for permitting me to fly.”
“However, our progress is contingent upon propulsion,” he elaborated. “And the energy that propels everything is right here – Maya, Sarah, Marta, my extended family. You are the vital force that sustains my spirit, and your affection is the catalyst that binds all my endeavors. Thank you, grazie.”
Randy Bresnik, a NASA astronaut slated to command Artemis III, is a former F/A-18 test pilot and participated in Space Shuttle mission STS-129. Bresnik underwent training as a “cave-a-naut” and aquanaut to assess human endurance in Earth’s most extreme conditions.
In addition, mission specialist and NASA astronaut Andre Douglas, who was a backup crew member for the Artemis II test flight, will now be in a prominent position.
“What an extraordinary day this is,” Douglas remarked at the press conference. “My mind is racing with thoughts, but my heart, my heart feels incredibly warm and full.”
Lastly, Frank Rubio is a NASA astronaut and mission specialist with over 28 years of service as an aviator and physician in the U.S. Army, achieving the rank of colonel. Rubio spent 371 days aboard the International Space Station between 2022 and 2023, setting a new record for the longest continuous spaceflight by a U.S. astronaut.
To the moon?
The crew’s test flight is poised to be crucial for the future of the Artemis program, given that significant setbacks encountered by the Starship and New Glenn rockets have cast doubt upon their readiness for a lunar mission.
Both rockets are essential for conveying landers to an orbital rendezvous with the Artemis crew. However, both are presently grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration following catastrophic failures. The New Glenn rocket’s May 28 “anomaly” is a contender for the most significant non-nuclear explosion recorded in American history.
The 321-foot-tall (98 meters) New Glenn rocket became a massive fireball mere moments after its ignition during a “hotfire test” at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station around 9 p.m. EDT (1 a.m. GMT) on May 28, casting a shadow of uncertainty over NASA’s lunar ambitions.
(Image credit: SpaceFlight Now)
Nevertheless, NASA indicates that it is collaborating closely with Blue Origin to bring the New Glenn rocket’s development back on course.
“While we acknowledge the inquiry regarding how Blue Origin’s recent mishap affects our schedule, setbacks provide valuable learning opportunities,” stated Jeremy Parsons, acting assistant deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Moon to Mars Program, during the press briefing. “We are confident that New Glenn will be prepared for Artemis III, alongside Blue Origin, but NASA is stepping in, contributing all of our expertise and capabilities.”
Representatives from both Blue Origin and SpaceX also addressed the assembly. John Couluris, senior vice president of lunar permanence at Blue Origin, reported that the company is making “excellent headway” in its investigation into the events of the May 28 “anomaly” and in the cleanup of the launch pad. Couluris further noted that the company’s lunar engineering and production divisions are continuing their work on Artemis vehicles.
Concurrently, SpaceX’s vice president, Jessica Jensen, highlighted the company’s “substantial progress” in developing Starship for the NASA mission.
The outlook appears more promising for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which has already proven its capability to transport humans on a circumnavigation of the moon during the remarkable Artemis II mission earlier this year. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with the Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen, journeyed to the moon and returned aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft.
The moon as observed through one of the windows of the Artemis II Orion capsule.
(Image credit: NASA)
The crew’s orbital test flight will be instrumental in advancing the Artemis program, as significant setbacks experienced by the Starship and New Glenn rockets have introduced considerable uncertainty regarding their readiness for lunar missions.
Both rockets are crucial for transporting landers to rendezvous with the Artemis crew in orbit. However, the Federal Aviation Administration has grounded both vehicles following explosive failures. The May 28 incident involving the New Glenn rocket, described as an “anomaly,” is considered a strong candidate for the largest non-nuclear detonation in U.S. history.
The 321-foot-tall (98 meters) New Glenn rocket detonated in a massive fireball shortly after its initial test firing at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station around 9 p.m. EDT (1 a.m. GMT) on May 28, jeopardizing NASA’s lunar objectives.
(Image credit: SpaceFlight Now)
Nonetheless, NASA affirms its close collaboration with Blue Origin to reinstate the New Glenn rocket’s development trajectory.
“While we acknowledge the inquiry about how Blue Origin’s recent incident impacts our timelines, setbacks serve as learning opportunities,” stated Jeremy Parsons, acting assistant deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Moon to Mars Program, during the press conference. “We are confident that New Glenn will be ready for Artemis III, in conjunction with Blue Origin, but NASA is actively intervening, bringing all of our expertise and capabilities to bear.”
Representatives from Blue Origin and SpaceX also addressed the attendees. John Couluris, senior vice president of lunar permanence at Blue Origin, reported that the company is making “excellent headway” with its investigation into the May 28 “anomaly” and the subsequent cleanup of the launch site. Couluris added that the company’s lunar engineering and manufacturing teams are continuing production for Artemis vehicles.
Meanwhile, SpaceX’s vice president, Jessica Jensen, discussed the company’s “substantial progress” in developing Starship for the NASA mission.
The prospects appear more favorable for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which has already demonstrated its capacity to propel astronauts on a lunar trajectory during the successful Artemis II mission earlier this year. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, alongside the Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen, completed a journey to the moon and back in NASA’s Orion spacecraft.
The moon viewed through one of the Artemis II Orion capsule’s windows.
(Image credit: NASA)
The crew’s orbital test flight will prove pivotal for the future of the Artemis program, as major setbacks suffered by the Starship and New Glenn rockets have raised troubling questions about their readiness for a moon mission.
Both rockets will be indispensable in transporting landers to an orbital rendezvous with the Artemis crew, yet both are currently grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration following explosive failures, with a May 28 “anomaly” by the New Glenn rocket being a contender for the largest non-nuclear detonation in American history.
The 321-foot-tall (98 meters) New Glenn rocket erupted into a gigantic fireball just seconds into a “hotfire test” at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at around 9 p.m. EDT (1 a.m. GMT) on May 28, plunging NASA’s moon plans into uncertainty.
(Image credit: SpaceFlight Now)
However, NASA says it is working closely with Blue Origin to get the New Glenn rocket’s development back on track.
“While we recognize the request about how Blue Origin’s recent anomaly impacts our plans, setbacks are a learning opportunity,” Jeremy Parsons, acting assistant deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Moon to Mars Program, said at the news conference. “We are confident that New Glenn will be ready for Artemis III, along with Blue Origen, but NASA is stepping in and bringing all of our expertise and capabilities to bear.”
Representatives from Blue Origin and SpaceX also spoke during the announcement. John Couluris, the senior vice president of lunar permanence at Blue Origin, said that Blue Origin was making “excellent progress” on the investigation into what happened during the May 28. “anomaly,” and i8n cleaning up the pad. Couluris added that the company’s lunar engineering and production teams were continuing production for Artemis vehicles.
Meanwhile, SpaceX’s vice president, Jessica Jensen, spoke of the company’s “substantial progress” on developing Starship for the NASA mission.
The outlook is less cloudy for NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which already demonstrated it was capable of sending humans on a trip around the moon during the spectacular Artemis II mission earlier this year. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with the Canadian Space Agency’s Jeremy Hansen, rode to the moon and back in NASA’s Orion spacecraft.
The moon as seen through the one of the Artemis II Orion capsule’s windows.
(Image credit: NASA)
The space agency plans to repeat that success in 2028 by slingshotting astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft around Earth to place them into the moon’s orbit. At the same time, a separate New Glenn or Starship rocket will launch, bringing a lander that will dock with Orion so two of the four astronauts can climb aboard. The commercial lander will then lower astronauts down onto the moon’s surface and then launch them back up to Orion for the trip home.
Originally, the Artemis III mission was supposed to include a moon landing — the first since the Apollo era. However, the mission was retooled as part of a sweeping overhaul of the Artemis program that changed Artemis III to a test flight orbiting Earth. The moon landings are currently scheduled for Artemis IV and Artemis V in 2028, with Artemis V to lay the foundation for NASA’s permanent lunar base.
“While this is a mission to Earth orbit, it is an important stepping stone to successfully landing on the Moon with Artemis IV,” Parsons said in a statement in May. “Artemis III is one of the most highly complex missions NASA has undertaken. For the first time, NASA will coordinate a launch campaign involving multiple spacecraft integrating new capabilities into Artemis operations.”
NASA has made it clear that lander readiness will determine which commercial provider gets the nod for the planned 2028 moon landings. Artemis III will be a pivotal step in determining that readiness, with one or both lander candidates scheduled to take part. If they both fail, the Artemis program will face its most significant setback yet.
Despite the success of Artemis II, the Artemis program is behind schedule and over budget. NASA was supposed to be back on the moon by now, but a string of delays has left it chasing increasingly ambitious targets.
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In March, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman announced “near‑impossible” plans for the U.S. space program, including a $20 billion moon base and humanity’s first nuclear-powered interplanetary spacecraft, which is also supposed to launch in 2028.
Beyond looming lunar lander woes, other commercial sector delays beset NASA’s procurement pipeline. For example, NASA chose Axiom Space as a rover partner even though its late spacesuits could push the moon landings out to 2031. Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines, meanwhile, were selected to send payloads, but both failed in their only other lunar delivery missions to date.
Besides testing key systems, the Artemis III crew will also be working with NASA’s science team to closely study the Earth’s atmosphere, the environment around Orion during the mission and the impact of space’s influence within the Orion capsule. One key phenomenon under investigation will be orbital drag, which causes spacecraft in low Earth orbit to lose altitude over time and is sensitive to space weather.
“While Artemis II was all about moon joy, Artemis III will be about Earth joy,” Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA science, said at the news conference. “By observing Earth’s atmosphere and how space weather impacts it, we can better understand how to protect the critical space-based technology there and all that we rely on, as well as our future astronaut crews traveling through that region.”
Editor’s note: This article was updated at 12:30 p.m. EDT with additional information about the Artemis III crew and mission.
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