NASA has announced new details for its Artemis III mission, naming the four astronauts who will fly on one of the agency’s most important human spaceflight tests in recent years.
The mission is planned for 2027 and will focus on a series of complex operations in Earth orbit that are designed to prepare NASA for Artemis IV, the first planned crewed mission to the lunar South Pole in 2028.
The Artemis III crew will include NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik as commander, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano as pilot, and NASA astronauts Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio as mission specialists. NASA astronaut Bob Hines has also been named as the backup crew member and will train alongside the main crew in case he is needed for the mission.
For this mission, NASA’s Space Launch System rocket will launch the Orion spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Once Orion reaches low Earth orbit, the crew will complete system checks before carrying out docking tests with test versions of commercial human landing systems being developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX.
NASA said the mission will involve a highly coordinated launch campaign using some of the world’s most powerful rockets. The goal is to test how Orion works with future lunar landers, including software, propulsion, communications, docking systems, and other critical hardware needed for future Moon missions.
The mission will also mark the first time an ESA astronaut has been assigned to an Artemis mission. Luca Parmitano’s role as pilot highlights Europe’s growing role in the Artemis program, especially through ESA’s European Service Module, which provides power and important support systems for Orion.
NASA said preparations for Artemis III are already moving forward. Engineers are expected to connect Orion’s crew module and service module this summer, while work also continues on the spacecraft’s docking system and heat shield. At the same time, processing work on the SLS rocket is underway, including integration of the core stage and preparations for the RS-25 engines.
Blue Origin is developing a crewed version of its Blue Moon lander, while SpaceX is working on a crewed lunar lander version of Starship. Both companies are building test articles that will be used during Artemis III as NASA works closely with its commercial partners to evaluate the systems before future Moon landing missions.
According to NASA’s plan, Blue Origin’s lander pathfinder will launch first and remain in orbit while waiting for Orion. After NASA launches the Artemis III crew aboard Orion, the spacecraft will rendezvous and dock with the Blue Origin test lander for around two days of checkouts and demonstrations, including crew entry into the lander.
After that phase, Orion will separate and wait for SpaceX’s Starship pathfinder. Starship will then launch and meet Orion in orbit for about one day of docking and system testing. Once all planned checks are complete, Orion will return to Earth and splash down in the Pacific Ocean, where NASA and the U.S. Navy will recover the astronauts.
NASA expects the Artemis III crew to spend about two weeks in space, although the final mission duration will depend on launch timing, docking operations, and real-time mission conditions.
Randy Bresnik will be making his third trip to space. He previously flew on space shuttle Atlantis during STS-129 and later traveled to the International Space Station aboard Soyuz MS-05. He has also served as commander of Expedition 53 and has played a key role in the development and testing of systems for future Artemis missions.
Luca Parmitano will also be making his third spaceflight. The Italian astronaut has flown twice to the International Space Station and became the first Italian to command the orbiting laboratory. His experience as a test pilot and space station commander makes him a key part of the Artemis III crew.
Frank Rubio will be making his second spaceflight after setting the record for the longest single space mission by an American astronaut. He spent 371 days in orbit after launching to the International Space Station in 2022 and returning in 2023.
Andre Douglas will be flying to space for the first time. He was selected by NASA in 2021 and previously served as a backup and closeout crew member for Artemis II. His background includes mechanical engineering, systems engineering, Coast Guard operations, and work on autonomous vehicles and space exploration systems.
If this article helped you, please consider supporting our work. Every small contribution keeps Abijita.com independent and running.
Backup crew member Bob Hines previously served as pilot of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission to the International Space Station. He is also a U.S. Air Force colonel with decades of experience as an instructor pilot, fighter pilot, and test pilot.
NASA said Artemis III is an important step in its long-term plan to return astronauts to the Moon, build a lasting human presence on the lunar surface, and prepare for future crewed missions to Mars.
