NASA Announces Artemis III Crew for 2027 Moon Test Mission

NASA unveiled the four‑person crew for the Artemis III mission, slated for launch in 2027. Commander Randy Bresnik, a veteran test pilot and former shuttle astronaut, will lead the flight. ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano from Italy will serve as pilot, marking the first European astronaut on an Artemis mission. Mission specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio complete the primary crew, with Bob Hines named as a backup.

The mission will launch aboard the Space Launch System with the Orion capsule to low‑Earth orbit, where it will perform a series‑of‑docking demonstrations with lunar lander prototypes from SpaceX and Blue Origin. Although Artemis III will not land on the Moon, it is a critical test of the rendezvous, docking and life‑support systems required for future lunar landings, notably Artemis IV in 2028. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said, “Today we take another bold step in humanity’s return to the Moon, building on the extraordinary foundation laid by the Artemis II astronauts.”

The announcement also noted the recent explosion of a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket, but the agency expects the lander prototypes to be ready in time for the 2027 flight.