NASA Announces Artemis III Crew for 2027 Mission

NASA has announced the crew for Artemis III, a key flight in the roadmap to return American astronauts to the Moon. The four astronauts—Andre Douglas, Frank Rubio, Luca Parmitano, and Randy Bresnik—will collect scientific data and practice orbital docking procedures to prepare for future lunar landing missions.

The all-male Artemis III crew represents diverse backgrounds and experience. Andre Douglas, 40, an engineer from Florida, will serve as mission specialist. Previously a backup for Artemis II, Douglas will become one of about two dozen African Americans to have flown in space.

Frank Rubio, 50, a Salvadoran-American physician, also takes on the mission specialist role. Rubio holds the record for the longest single spaceflight by an American at 371 days and previously flew Black Hawk helicopters for the U.S. Army.

Mission commander Randy Bresnik, 58, is a former U.S. Navy and Marine Corps test pilot. The only crew member with space shuttle experience (2009), he also commanded the International Space Station (ISS) in 2017.

Pilot Luca Parmitano, 49, of Italy, is the sole non-U.S. astronaut. He commanded the ISS in 2019, the first Italian to do so.

Speaking at the June 9 announcement, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said: “Each of you brings a unique background. Your deep experience and unwavering dedication to NASA’s mission enable you to take the next giant leap in space exploration.”

Artemis III is a public-private partnership. Three rockets will launch: one carrying the crew to Earth orbit aboard Orion, and two carrying lunar lander prototypes from Blue Origin and SpaceX. Orion will practice approach and docking maneuvers with each lander to prepare for future Moon missions.

Explosion and Concerns

Despite the celebratory mood, the May 28 explosion of an uncrewed Blue Origin New Glenn rocket in Florida remains a concern. The blast produced a mushroom cloud over Cape Canaveral and severely damaged the launch pad.

NASA and Blue Origin officials described the incident as an “anomaly” and a learning opportunity. Jeremy Parsons, NASA’s acting deputy administrator, said: “We recognize there are questions about the impact of Blue Origin’s recent Anomaly, but failure is a learning opportunity.” He added that NASA is “playing an active role with our partners to ensure the right outcome.”

John Couluris of Blue Origin stated the company has “doubled down and is moving forward,” with factories running “24/7” to be ready for Artemis III.

Race to the Moon

The race to outpace China’s space program also featured prominently. Several speakers alluded to China’s lunar landing program, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030.

President Donald Trump’s administration wants astronauts to land on the Moon before his term ends in January 2029. NASA describes Artemis as a stepping stone to a permanent lunar base. Nicky Fox, a NASA scientist, called Artemis III preparation to “put astronauts’ boots back on the lunar surface and to stay.”

Originally aimed at landing humans on the Moon, Artemis III was revised in February to focus on low-Earth orbit training. Parsons said: “We will use this mission to reduce risks for future crewed missions and ensure we beat China back to the Moon.”

Senator Ted Cruz, in a recorded statement, emphasized: “At a time of increasing competition with China in space, this mission will strengthen American leadership, expand our economy, and help secure a long-term U.S. presence on the Moon.”