The agency unveiled details of the new Artemis III mission and the astronauts set to go on board.
Tuesday, June 9, 2026 10:10PMThe agency revealed the astronauts chosen for the lunar mission on Tuesday morning at Houston's Johnson Space Center. ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano, pilotBackup: Bob Hines The newly named crew will follow the agency's first lunar mission in more than 50 years.
The Artemis II crew was at the announcement and passed the baton to the new group.
"We've been carrying these batons around for way too long," Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman said. "With that, the Artemis II crew hands you this baton, Comrade. You've got the controls.
" "While this may look like just a baton right now that's in my hand, it feels like this big flaming Olympic torch that you, Reid, Christina, Jeremy and Victor lit, and the world was entranced by its flame for the ten days of the mission," Artemis III Commander Randy Bresnik said. "We, the Artemis III crew, are honored to be able to carry this torch forward. " The Artemis III crew isn't scheduled to go to the moon.
NASA said it'll spend two weeks in low Earth orbit testing two lunar landers. While they want the mission to take place next summer, NASA needs private companies' equipment to work. Nearly two weeks ago, Blue Origin's rocket exploded on the launch pad. NASA is relying on the company to launch its rocket and lunar lander.could have on the Artemis program.
Each Artemis III crew member has their own space story. Bresnik was in space nearly 20 years ago when his daughter was born in Houston. Rubio was stranded on the ISS for an extra six months a few years ago when a spacecraft malfunctioned. Douglas spent the last few years as the backup crew member for Artemis II.
And Parmitano is the first European astronaut to take part in an Artemis mission. While there's international history, the gender barrier broken by Artemis II is missing in the new crew, as none of the members are women.
"I don't think anyone should be reading into this," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said. "Our last astronaut candidate class was greater than 50 percent female. We'll assemble the best astronauts to undertake and complete the objectives set up for the following mission.
" Rice University physics & astronomy professor Pat Reiff, who worked at NASA during the Apollo missions, said she believes a female will be part of the upcoming moon mission. "I suspect when Artemis IV comes around, there will be a female on board," Reiff explained. "We're not counting numbers. We're counting the right people to do the job. "Copyright © 2026 KTRK-TV. All Rights Reserved.
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