Overview
- NASA announced the four-person Artemis III prime crew on June 9, 2026, naming Randy Bresnik, Luca Parmitano, Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio, with Bob Hines as backup.
- Artemis III has been redefined as a roughly two-week low-Earth-orbit test to rendezvous and dock Orion with test articles from SpaceX and Blue Origin rather than land on the Moon.
- The mission is targeted for late 2027 at the earliest and will use SLS to launch Orion as part of a tightly choreographed multi-launch campaign that also will fly the commercial lander pathfinders.
- Engineers are progressing on Orion and SLS processing and installing a new docking system, while heat-shield wear on Artemis I and industry setbacks create real schedule and technical risk.
- The crew pick, which includes the first assigned ESA astronaut to an Artemis flight, drew public criticism for being all-male and prompted NASA leadership to clarify its selection messaging.