NASA has unveiled new details about Artemis III, one of the most ambitious human spaceflight missions planned in decades, while also introducing the four astronauts who will fly the mission and a backup crew member. Scheduled for 2027, Artemis III will carry out a series of complex tests in Earth orbit that are considered critical for Artemis IV, the first planned crewed mission to the Moon's South Pole in 2028.
The mission will launch aboard NASA's SLS (Space Launch System) rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, sending the Orion spacecraft and its crew into low Earth orbit. Once Orion completes initial system checks, it will attempt rendezvous and docking operations for the first time with test versions of lunar landers being developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX. The mission is designed to evaluate how Orion and the landers work together, including their software, communications, propulsion systems, and other key technologies.
Artemis III Crew Announced
NASA named the following astronauts to the Artemis III crew: Randy Bresnik, commander Luca Parmitano of ESA (European Space Agency), pilot Andre Douglas, mission specialist Frank Rubio, mission specialistNASA astronaut Bob Hines was selected as the backup crew member.
