Introducing Artemis III

Taking another step toward one of the most complex human spaceflight missions in recent history, NASA released new details about the Artemis III mission on June 9, including the astronauts who will carry out a series of objectives designed to demonstrate critical systems for a future lunar landing. These efforts will help NASA and its partners reduce risk before Americans return to the Moon on Artemis IV. The crew — NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, Andre Douglas, and Frank Rubio, along with ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano — will begin training immediately on Orion spacecraft systems. They will also support the development and operations of test versions of the Blue Origin and SpaceX lunar landers. “Today we take another bold step in humanity’s return to the Moon, building on the extraordinary foundation laid by the Artemis II astronauts,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman. “Their achievements reignited global excitement for exploration, and now they pass the torch to the Artemis III team, Randy, Luca, Frank, and Andre. Artemis III will demonstrate the power of American innovation and international partnership as we test complex rendezvous and docking operations and advance the technologies that will one day carry us deeper into the solar system. This mission will require the most awe-inspiring coordination of heavy-lift rocket launches in history, drawing on the talent and capability of teams across government and the spaceflight community. The Artemis III astronauts, alongside ESA and our international partners, and the tens of thousands of the best and brightest across the agency and industry, are ushering in a new Golden Age of exploration carrying forward the hopes and dreams of the next generation just as the Apollo astronauts did for so many of us.”