Image: from Lockheed Martin X @LockheedMartin
By Open Chronicle with agencies
NASA has officially announced the four astronauts who will fly on the Artemis III mission, a crucial step in the agency’s effort to return humans to the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era.
Scheduled for launch in 2027, Artemis III will not land on the lunar surface as originally planned. Instead, the mission has been redesigned as a major rehearsal for future Moon landings, focusing on testing spacecraft operations, docking procedures, and next-generation lunar equipment in Earth orbit.
The mission will pave the way for Artemis IV, currently scheduled for 2028, which is expected to carry astronauts to the Moon and mark the first American lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972.
Congrats to the Artemis III crew! @AstroKomrade, @astro_luca, Frank Rubio and @Astro_AndreD.
The most complicated on-orbit operations before heading to the Moon ahead of us in 2027! Good luck Luca! Europe and @esa is proud! 🚀
🎥 NASA pic.twitter.com/BKbZKLTGEf
— Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski (@astro_slawosz) June 9, 2026
A New Mission Profile
Artemis III will launch aboard NASA’s powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The astronauts will travel inside the Orion spacecraft, the same capsule used during the Artemis II mission in 2026.
Unlike earlier plans, Orion will remain in low Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 290 miles (467 kilometers), rather than traveling around the Moon.
During the mission, Orion will rendezvous and dock with prototype lunar landers known as pathfinders. The crew will test key systems required for future lunar operations, including hatch mechanisms, life support interfaces, docking procedures, and the latest generation of lunar spacesuits.
At least one astronaut is expected to enter a prototype lander to evaluate its functionality and compatibility with the new spacesuits developed by Houston-based Axiom Space in collaboration with the Italian fashion house Prada.
The suits incorporate advanced cooling systems designed for extended lunar surface operations. Engineers have included a backup cooling loop to improve astronaut safety during future Moon walks expected to last up to eight hours.
The crew will spend slightly longer in space than the Artemis II astronauts, whose mission lasted nine days. Artemis III will also test an upgraded heat shield on Orion during its high-speed reentry into Earth’s atmosphere.
Why NASA Changed the Mission
NASA originally intended Artemis III to become the first crewed lunar landing mission of the Artemis program.
However, in February 2026, the agency revised its plans due to delays involving the lunar landing system being developed by SpaceX.
The Starship lander selected to carry astronauts to the Moon still requires successful in-orbit refueling demonstrations, a technology that has yet to be proven operational. A March 2026 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office concluded that SpaceX had made only limited progress in developing the required refueling capabilities.
Rather than postpone the mission indefinitely, NASA decided to use Artemis III as a full-scale orbital rehearsal, allowing astronauts to test critical procedures before attempting a lunar landing later in the decade.
Meet the Artemis III Crew
Randy Bresnik, Commander
Veteran NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik will command the mission. A former U.S. Marine Corps aviator, test pilot, and graduate of the elite Top Gun program, Bresnik has extensive spaceflight experience.
He previously commanded the International Space Station in 2017 and has accumulated more than 32 hours of spacewalk experience.
Luca Parmitano, Pilot
Representing the European Space Agency, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano will serve as pilot.
Parmitano, who joined ESA in 2009, is a highly experienced test pilot and electronic warfare specialist. He has flown more than 40 different aircraft types and previously served as commander of the International Space Station.
Andre Douglas, Mission Specialist
NASA astronaut Andre Douglas was selected in 2021 and brings expertise in robotics, autonomous systems, planetary defense, and naval architecture.
A former U.S. Coast Guard officer, Douglas represents a new generation of astronauts preparing for deep space exploration missions.
Frank Rubio, Mission Specialist
Frank Rubio, a physician and U.S. Army aviator born to Salvadoran parents, completes the crew.
Rubio holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by an American astronaut after spending 371 consecutive days in orbit during a mission completed in 2023.
Preparing for Humanity’s Return to the Moon
Although Artemis III will not place astronauts on the lunar surface, NASA views the mission as one of the most important milestones in the Artemis program.
By testing docking operations, spacesuits, spacecraft systems, and lunar lander interfaces with a crew aboard, the agency hopes to reduce risks and ensure that future Moon landings can be conducted safely and efficiently.
If successful, Artemis III will bring NASA one step closer to establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon and preparing for eventual missions to Mars.
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