NASA has unveiled the four astronauts selected for its Artemis III mission, slated for launch in 2027. While this mission will not feature a lunar landing, it represents a critical step in the agency's ambitious programme to return humans to the Moon, acting as a crucial rehearsal for future lunar expeditions.
The Artemis III crew will consist of NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik as commander, Luca Parmitano from the Italian Space Agency as pilot, and Americans Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio as mission specialists. Bob Heintz will serve as a backup crew member, capable of stepping into any role. This diverse team will launch aboard NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, though a precise launch date is yet to be confirmed.
Instead of orbiting the Moon, the Orion capsule, carrying the crew, will remain in low Earth orbit, approximately 290 miles above the planet. This altitude, comparable to the distance between Manchester and Edinburgh, is 40 miles higher than the International Space Station. Here, the crew will rendezvous and dock with prototype lunar landers, known as pathfinders. A key objective is for at least one crew member to enter a lander to test hatches, life-support connections, and the newly designed Axiom spacesuits. These innovative suits, engineered by Houston-based Axiom Space with design input from Italian fashion house Prada, feature advancements like a backup cooling loop and an inner garment designed to distribute chilled water during planned eight-hour spacewalks on the Moon.
The Artemis III mission was initially intended to be the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. However, NASA revised its plans in February 2026. The change was necessitated by the SpaceX Starship lander, contracted for lunar surface transport, not being ready, and the complex in-orbit refuelling process it relies on not yet having been demonstrated. A March 2026 report from the US Government Accountability Office indicated that SpaceX had made "limited progress" in maturing this technology, with the first refuelling demonstration optimistically scheduled for late 2026.
By repurposing Artemis III as a crewed docking rehearsal, NASA aims to test vital techniques and equipment with astronauts onboard, ensuring readiness for future missions. The crew will spend two weeks aboard Orion, slightly longer than the Artemis II team, and their return journey will include testing an upgraded heat shield during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.
This mission directly paves the way for Artemis IV, targeted for 2028, which NASA hopes will mark the modern era's first crewed lunar landing. Astronauts are expected to explore the Moon's south polar region, a location of significant scientific interest due to the potential presence of frozen water in permanently shadowed craters. This water could be a vital resource for future lunar habitation, providing drinking water, oxygen, and even rocket fuel, aligning with NASA's broader ambition to establish a long-term human presence on the Moon, as outlined in its Moon Base programme unveiled in May 2026.