HOUSTON — NASA has officially announced the four prime crew members and backup astronaut selected to fly the historic Artemis III mission.
Slated for mid-2027, the highly complex, two-week flight will serve as an Low Earth Orbit test of the Orion spacecraft and two commercial human landing systems, laying the critical groundwork for a return to the lunar surface.
During an event at the Johnson Space Center, agency officials revealed a crew consisting of seasoned spaceflight veterans and accomplished technical specialists.
Meet the Crew:
Commander Randy Bresnik (NASA)
A retired U.S. Marine colonel and veteran test pilot, Bresnik will be making his third trip into space. He previously flew aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-129) and later commanded Expedition 53 on the International Space Station (ISS). Since 2018, he has guided the development and testing of NASA’s deep space exploration systems.
Pilot Luca Parmitano (ESA)
Making history as the first European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut assigned to an Artemis mission, Parmitano is an elite Italian Air Force test pilot. He has completed two long-duration missions to the ISS, commanding Expedition 61.
Mission Specialist Frank Rubio (NASA)
A U.S. Army physician and aviator, Rubio returns to space after breaking the record for the longest single-duration spaceflight by an American astronaut, logging 371 consecutive days in orbit during his 2022–2023 mission.
Mission Specialist Andre Douglas (NASA)
Representing the new generation of explorers, Douglas will embark on his first spaceflight. A former U.S. Coast Guard officer with a doctorate in systems engineering, Douglas previously served as a backup and closeout crew member for Artemis II.
Backup Crew:
Bob Hines (NASA)
International Partnership and the New Golden Age
The selection of the crew underscores the deepening international collaboration at the heart of the Artemis program. For the first time, an ESA astronaut will take the pilot’s seat of an American deep space vehicle, powered by Europe’s critical hardware contribution.
“Luca’s assignment as pilot reflects the depth of European expertise in human spaceflight…At the same time, ESA’s European Service Module will once again provide the critical capabilities that power Orion, demonstrating Europe’s enduring role at the very heart of the Artemis program.” – Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General
Artemis III will demonstrate the power of American innovation and international partnership as we test complex rendezvous and docking operations
“The Artemis III astronauts are ushering in a new Golden Age of exploration carrying forward the hopes and dreams of the next generation just as the Apollo astronauts did for so many of us.” – Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator
The crew is scheduled to begin training immediately on Orion spacecraft operations.