NASA has named its crew for the Artemis III mission, a rehearsal for a lunar landing in low Earth orbit.
ManyPress Editorial Team
ManyPress Editorial
Key facts
- •The Artemis III crew consists of Randy Bresnik, Luca Parmitano, Andre Douglas, and Frank Rubio.
- •The mission will dock with prototype lunar landers in low Earth orbit.
- •The crew will test the new Axiom spacesuits, designed by Prada and built by Axiom Space.
- •The mission was originally planned as the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972.
- •The 2028 Artemis IV mission is scheduled to put American astronauts on the Moon for the first time since 1972.
- •The Artemis III mission will launch on NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
NASA has named the Artemis III crew, which will fly to low Earth orbit and dock with prototype lunar landers in a rehearsal for a future lunar landing. The mission was originally planned as the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972 but was changed due to delays in the development of the SpaceX Starship rocket.
Mission Objective
The Artemis III crew, consisting of Randy Bresnik, Luca Parmitano, Andre Douglas, and Frank Rubio, will travel to low Earth orbit aboard the Orion capsule and dock with prototype lunar landers. The mission will test the procedures for docking with the landers and the new Axiom spacesuits, designed by Prada and built by Axiom Space. At least one crew member is expected to climb inside a lander to test the hatches, life-support connections, and the suits.
Mission Changes
The Artemis III mission was originally conceived as the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. However, due to delays in the development of the SpaceX Starship rocket, NASA changed its plans in February 2026. The mission will now serve as a rehearsal for the lunar landing, testing the techniques for docking with the landers and the suits in low Earth orbit. The 2028 Artemis IV mission is scheduled to put American astronauts on the Moon for the first time since 1972.
Crew and Vehicle
The Artemis III crew will launch on NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. The launch date has not yet been confirmed. The crew will travel inside the Orion capsule, the same vehicle used during the Artemis II mission in April 2026. Bob Heintz will serve as a backup crew member.
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by BBC Science & Environment, BBC Science & Environment.
