NASA names next astronauts for Artemis Moon programme
NASA has announced the four astronauts who will fly on its next major Artemis mission, a key step in the agency’s plan to return humans to the Moon. The crew for Artemis III includes NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, and Andre Douglas, along with European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano.
The mission is expected to launch in 2027 aboard NASA’s Space Launch System and Orion. Unlike earlier expectations of an immediate lunar landing, Artemis III will initially focus on testing critical rendezvous and docking operations in Earth orbit with commercial lunar landers being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin. These demonstrations are intended to reduce risk before astronauts attempt a future landing near the Moon’s south pole.
NASA officials described the mission as one of the most complex human spaceflight operations attempted in decades because it will involve multiple spacecraft and international cooperation. The selection of Parmitano also highlights Europe’s growing role in lunar exploration through the Artemis partnership.
The announcement comes after the successful completion of Artemis II, which carried astronauts around the Moon and back to Earth, marking the first crewed lunar voyage in more than 50 years. NASA views Artemis III as the next major milestone toward establishing a sustained human presence on and around the Moon, with later missions expected to conduct surface landings and prepare for eventual journeys to Mars.
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