Nasa names next astronauts for Artemis Moon programme

Nasa names its next Artemis crew, though they will not be walking on the Moon or even going anywhere near it.

NASA has announced the four prime crew members and a backup for the Artemis III mission, scheduled for 2027. The crew includes Commander Randy Bresnik, Pilot Luca Parmitano, and Mission Specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio. The mission will test integrated operations between the Orion spacecraft and commercial lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin in low Earth orbit, paving the way for future lunar surface missions.

NASA has unveiled the crew for Artemis III, including Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano as the pilot, who will lead a two-week mission in low Earth orbit to test lunar landers from private companies Blue Origin and SpaceX. This mission is a critical step toward returning humans to the Moon, with the first planned crewed lunar landing targeted for 2028.

NASA has announced the four-member crew for Artemis III, including Commander Randy Bresnik, Pilot Luca Parmitano, and Mission Specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio. The mission will focus on testing critical rendezvous and docking capabilities between the Orion spacecraft and commercial lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin in low Earth orbit, preparing for future lunar surface missions.

NASA has announced the crew for its upcoming Artemis III mission, marking a critical step toward returning humans to the moon. The team includes astronauts Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, Andre Douglas, and ESA's Luca Parmitano. This mission won’t land on the moon but will focus on testing essential technologies in Earth’s orbit, specifically docking maneuvers between their Orion capsule and two lunar landers. This prepares the groundwork for a future lunar landing targeted for 2028.

NASA has announced the four-member crew for Artemis III, including first-time astronaut Andre Douglas, record-setting astronaut U.S. Army Col. Frank Rubio, Italian Air Force Col. Luca Parmitano as the pilot, and veteran astronaut and U.S. Marine Corps Col. Randy Bresnik as the commander. The mission will test lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin in Earth orbit, marking a shift toward commercial spacecraft integration.

NASA has introduced the four astronauts for the Artemis III mission, which will test rendezvous and docking procedures with lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin in Earth orbit. The crew includes Commander Randy Bresnik, Mission Specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio, and Pilot Luca Parmitano.

NASA is set to announce the four-person crew for the Artemis 3 mission on June 9, 2026, amid growing speculation following the successful completion of Artemis 2 in April, which looped around the Moon with astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA’s Jeremy Hansen.

NASA has announced the four-member crew for Artemis III, the agency’s next significant step in returning humans to the Moon. The crew includes first-time astronaut Andre Douglas, record-setting astronaut U.S. Army Col. Frank Rubio, Italian Air Force Col. Luca Parmitano as the pilot, and veteran astronaut and U.S. Marine Corps Col. Randy Bresnik as the commander. This mission is pivotal, involving in-orbit testing of lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin, marking a shift toward commercial spacecraft integration. Blue Origin’s lander will launch first, followed by the Orion spacecraft carrying the crew. Orion will perform rendezvous maneuvers with SpaceX’s Starship before the astronauts return to Earth. NASA emphasized the importance of this mission in validating complex multi-vehicle operations in orbit. However, development delays from both space companies could impact the timeline. While Artemis IV is tentatively scheduled for 2028, setbacks from Artemis III may cause ripples throughout NASA’s lunar exploration agenda.

NASA has named the four astronauts for the Artemis III mission, which will test rendezvous and docking procedures with lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin in Earth orbit. The crew includes Commander Randy Bresnik, Mission Specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio, and Pilot Luca Parmitano.

NASA has revealed the four astronauts who will fly on Artemis III, scheduled for 2027, to test integrated operations between the Orion spacecraft and commercial lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin in low Earth orbit.