NASA names astronaut crew for Artemis III mission : NPR
NPR • • science
Key Points:
- NASA announced the four-member international crew for the Artemis III mission, a critical test flight planned as early as next year to demonstrate Orion spacecraft's docking with two commercial lunar landers in low-Earth orbit.
- The crew includes NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik (commander), Frank Rubio, Andre Douglas, and European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano (pilot), with Douglas flying his first space mission.
- Artemis III will test docking with Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander and SpaceX's Starship in orbit, validating key systems before future lunar surface missions targeted for 2028.
- A recent explosion at Blue Origin’s launch site raises concerns about the mission timeline, but both Blue Origin and SpaceX remain confident in preparing their landers for Artemis III.
- The mission marks a significant step in NASA’s phased approach to returning humans to the Moon, with the Artemis II crew symbolically passing leadership to Artemis III astronauts during the announcement.