NASA Announces Artemis III Crew for 2027 Test Flight

NASA revealed the four astronauts who will fly the Artemis III mission in mid‑2027. Veteran astronaut Randy Bresnik was named commander, European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano serves as pilot, and NASA astronauts Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas are mission specialists, with Bob Hines designated as backup.

The two‑week low‑Earth‑orbit flight will use the Orion capsule launched on the Space Launch System and will test docking with prototype lunar landers from Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 2 and SpaceX’s Starship. The multi‑launch campaign also involves Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket and SpaceX’s Starship, aiming to validate hardware integration and operational procedures for future lunar landings, including Artemis IV scheduled for 2028.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman defended the all‑male crew, noting the selection was based on mission‑success criteria, while emphasizing the agency’s workforce includes many qualified women. Commander Bresnik expressed confidence the crew will be ready within a year, citing experience from Artemis II and extensive Orion training. The mission will also conduct Earth‑observation science studies.

This announcement marks the first ESA astronaut assigned to an Artemis mission and the first spaceflight for Coast Guard Reserve commander Andre Douglas.