NASA Names Artemis III Crew for 2027 Earth Orbit Test Flight

NASA named the four astronauts for Artemis III on June 9, 2026. The mission will launch in 2027 to low Earth orbit, where the crew will test docking with prototype lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin. This test flight is essential before Artemis IV attempts the first crewed lunar landing near the Moon’s south pole in 2028. The mission marks a shift from the original plan to land on the Moon directly.

Who Will Fly Artemis III

Commander Randy Bresnik, 58, is a former Marine test pilot who flew on the Space Shuttle in 2009 and commanded the International Space Station in 2017. Pilot Luca Parmitano, 49, is a European Space Agency astronaut who has spent 366 days in space across two ISS missions. Mission specialists Andre Douglas, 40, and Frank Rubio, 49, round out the crew. Rubio holds the US record for longest single spaceflight at 371 days. NASA astronaut Bob Hines was named as backup crew member.

What Artemis III Will Do in Orbit

The crew will spend two weeks aboard the Orion spacecraft in low Earth orbit, about 290 miles above Earth. They will rendezvous and dock with prototype lunar landers, called pathfinders, developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin. At least one crew member will enter a lander to test hatches, life-support connections, and new Axiom spacesuits designed with Prada. The mission will test an upgraded heat shield during re-entry. This dress rehearsal is critical before Artemis IV attempts an actual Moon landing in 2028.

Why the Mission Changed From a Moon Landing

Artemis III was originally planned as the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. In February 2026, NASA changed course and made it an Earth orbit test instead. SpaceX’s Starship rocket, needed to carry astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface, has faced significant delays. In March 2026, the Government Accountability Office found SpaceX made limited progress on in-orbit refuelling and cryogenic propellant storage. Blue Origin’s launch pad also exploded last month. NASA decided testing docking procedures in Earth orbit first was essential before attempting a direct lunar landing.

Timeline and International Partnership

Artemis III will launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in 2027, though an exact date has not been confirmed. The European Space Agency is providing its third European Service Module for the mission. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called the mission the most complex human spaceflight ever attempted. Artemis IV, scheduled for 2028, will carry astronauts to the lunar south pole for the first crewed Moon landing in over 50 years.

Final Thoughts

Artemis III represents a critical stepping stone to returning humans to the Moon. The 2027 test flight in Earth orbit will prove essential technologies before the 2028 landing attempt, though delays from commercial partners remain a significant risk to the timeline.

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