NASA Names Astronauts for Artemis III Mission
NASA has announced the astronauts who will participate in the upcoming Artemis III mission, marking the return of humans to the moon for the first time since 1972, with a planned launch in 2027.
On Tuesday, NASA revealed a crew of four, primarily made up of American astronauts, to undertake what they describe as “one of the most complex human spaceflight missions in recent history.”
Joining the team are NASA astronauts Commander Randy “Comrade” Bresnik, along with Mission Specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio. European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Luca Parmitano will serve as the pilot. NASA has also appointed astronaut Bob Hines as a backup crew member.
The mission intends to utilize a Space Launch System (SLS) rocket to propel the Orion spacecraft from Kennedy Space Center in Florida into low Earth orbit. In this phase, tests will be conducted on lunar landing systems developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin.
“This highly planned mission includes a dramatic multi-launch campaign of the world’s most powerful rocket that tests the integration hardware between Orion and the lander,” NASA stated, noting that various system components like software and communications will be evaluated.
Bresnik, who hails from Kentucky and California, became an astronaut in 2004 after serving as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He previously held the role of commander on the International Space Station during Expedition 53.
“Spaceflight is difficult, which is why the most important Artemis mission will be the next Artemis mission,” Bresnik remarked during the announcement event in Houston. He expressed gratitude for being part of this mission, linking it to the recent Artemis II mission and hinting at future Artemis IV developments.
Andre Douglas, originally from Florida and Virginia, was chosen for NASA’s astronaut class in 2021 and had previously been named a backup for the Artemis II mission. Frank Rubio, from California and Florida, joined NASA’s candidate class in 2017 after serving as a surgeon in the U.S. Army Special Forces.
As for Luca Parmitano, he resides in Paterno and Catania, Italy, and has an extensive background as a test pilot for the Italian Air Force. He became an ESA astronaut in 2009.
