NASA names Artemis III crew, adds Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano as pilot

NASA announced the four‑person crew for the Artemis III mission scheduled for late 2027. The team includes mission commander Randy Bresnik, flight specialists Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas, and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano, who will serve as pilot and become the first European to fly on an Artemis mission. A backup astronaut, Bob Hines, was also named.

Artemis III will no longer aim for a Moon landing; instead it will conduct a low‑Earth‑orbit test of the Orion spacecraft’s ability to rendezvous and dock with lunar lander prototypes from SpaceX and Blue Origin. The test will demonstrate key technologies for future lunar missions, notably Artemis IV, which targets a crewed Moon landing in 2028. Recent concerns about Blue Origin’s readiness after a New Glenn engine test explosion were noted, but the agency affirmed its lander will be ready for the 2027 flight.