NASA presented on Tuesday the four astronauts who will make up the primary crew of Artemis III, a mission scheduled for 2027 that will mark a new milestone in the lunar exploration program. The flight will aim to perform complex rendezvous and docking maneuvers in Earth orbit with the landing systems being developed by private companies for future expeditions to the Moon.
The mission will be commanded by Randy Bresnik, accompanied by European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, who will serve as pilot. The team is completed by mission specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio. Additionally, the agency designated Bob Hines as backup member.
Bresnik will be in charge of leading Artemis III. As commander, he will have the responsibility of overseeing all flight operations and coordinating crew activities during a mission that NASA considers one of the most complex in recent decades. A veteran astronaut of the agency, he has experience in space flights and leadership roles within human exploration programs.
The designation of Parmitano represents a historic event: it is the first time an ESA astronaut has received an assignment within the Artemis program. The Italian astronaut will take the pilot position thanks to his extensive experience in space operations and long-duration missions. ESA highlighted that his participation reflects the central role Europe plays in the program, especially through the European Service Module that powers the Orion spacecraft.
Douglas will join the team as a mission specialist. His work will focus on supporting the technical and operational tests that will validate the systems necessary for future lunar expeditions. NASA expects Artemis III to verify the integrated operation of multiple technologies, from software and communications to propulsion and docking systems.
Rubio will complete the primary crew as a mission specialist. The astronaut will bring his experience in space operations during a mission that will include unprecedented tests between the Orion spacecraft and the landing modules developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX. During Artemis III, the Space Launch System rocket will lift off from Kennedy Space Center to place the Orion spacecraft and its crew into Earth orbit.
Once initial checks are completed, Orion will attempt for the first time rendezvous and docking maneuvers with test versions of the lunar landing systems developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX. The campaign will require multiple coordinated launches and will serve to validate procedures that will be fundamental for Artemis IV, scheduled for 2028 and aimed at taking astronauts to the Moon’s south pole.
According to NASA, the mission will test hardware, software, communications, and interfaces between spacecraft, with the goal of preparing the next stage of human exploration beyond Earth orbit.
para mi la nasa se lleno de zurdos extranjeros este rubio ni argentino es seguro es un progre infiltrado y el italiano ni te digo pura joda la unica mision q importa es cerrar fronteras no ir a la luna volve trump te extrañamos
Para mí esto es otro circo yanki espacial mientras acá se funden hospitales. Luca Parmitano y Frank Rubio son cómplices del capitalismo galáctico, me parece un choreo a la gente. Que se queden allá arriba con sus cohetes de la NASA y nos devuelvan la plata, yo creo que es una vergüenza.