As NASA prepares for the highly anticipated **Artemis III mission**, scheduled for launch next year, the decision to select an all-male crew has sparked significant controversy. This announcement, made on Tuesday, revealed the four astronauts who will be part of the mission.
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“It’s an insane choice to have no women onboard **Artemis III**,” remarks space influencer Alexandra Doten (aka Astro Alexandra). She posted her thoughts on X on Tuesday.
In response to the backlash, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman addressed the criticisms directly on Wednesday.
“I’ve seen reactions that range from disappointment to anger,” he stated in a recent announcement.
Isaacman explained that some astronauts might not have been chosen for **Artemis III** due to their readiness for missions to the International Space Station or because their expertise aligns better with future Artemis missions aimed at landing on the moon.
“The astronaut office evaluates many factors, including an astronaut’s background, expertise, test pilot experience, and the specific needs of the mission to assemble a crew that maximizes the chances of mission success,” he elaborated.
The selected crew members include NASA astronauts **Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, and Andre Douglas**, along with European Space Agency astronaut **Luca Parmitano**. Their mission, set to launch by summer **2027**, aims to test commercial lunar landers, laying the groundwork for the **2028 Artemis IV mission** that will transport astronauts to the moon’s surface. The Artemis III crew will spend approximately two weeks in Earth orbit conducting this test.
Both **SpaceX** and **Blue Origin** are developing these lunar landers, with the Artemis III mission designed to demonstrate rendezvous and docking procedures between NASA’s **Orion capsule** and the new landers.
Looking ahead to **Artemis IV** in 2024, one of the landers will partner with the **Orion spacecraft**, which carried Artemis II astronauts on a 10-day journey around Earth and the moon this past April. The lander’s role will be to transport astronauts to the lunar surface and then return them safely to Earth.
Since **2023**, NASA has pledged to land the first woman and first person of color on the moon during its Artemis missions. However, they have since modified the language on some platforms amidst discussions surrounding diversity and inclusion.
Isaacman clarified that the crew selection process at NASA “does not involve political appointees,” likely addressing concerns about potential external influence in the astronaut selection.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
While NASA may be reserving the most experienced female astronaut for the upcoming **Artemis IV mission**, the crew member has yet to be disclosed.
Currently, NASA has 37 active astronauts eligible for missions, among which **15 are women**. Impressively, the latest astronaut class announced last year included a historic majority of women.
Astronomy PhD student **Jasmin Singh**, known as **@astro_jaz** on X, commented that the all-male crew of **Artemis III** was a “huge blow,” especially for those inspired by astronaut **Christina Koch** during her contributions to **Artemis II**.
“For those who aren’t offended by the absence of women in **Artemis III**, they may not grasp the significance of seeing someone who resembles you achieve something monumental, particularly after centuries of underrepresentation,” Singh expressed.
“The selected astronauts for **Artemis III** are experienced and qualified, deserving recognition for their mission, just as future crews will receive the same honor,” Isaacman stated.
For the **Artemis III flight**, Bresnik will serve as mission commander, Parmitano as pilot, and Douglas and Rubio as mission specialists. NASA astronaut **Bob Hines** will act as a backup crew member.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
