NASA has released the names of the four astronauts chosen for the Artemis III mission, marking a significant milestone in its ambitious plan to return humans to the moon.
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Astronauts Randy Bresnik, Luca Parmitano, Frank Rubio, and Andre Douglas are set for launch into Earth orbit next year as part of testing initiatives for commercially developed lunar landers that will transport NASA astronauts to the moon’s surface by 2028. Bresnik will co-lead the mission with Parmitano, an astronaut from the European Space Agency, while Douglas and Rubio will serve as mission specialists. NASA astronaut Bob Hines will also train with the crew as a backup.
The competition to build the lunar lander for the Artemis III mission includes Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin. Both companies confirmed on Tuesday their timelines align for having the lander ready.
“This test flight will showcase our ability to conduct meticulously planned operations with partners in a high-stakes space environment, which includes hardware interfaces, software propulsion systems, and crew life support,” stated Jeremy Parsons, NASA’s Artemis program manager.
Parsons noted that the Artemis III mission is projected to last about two weeks—approximately four days longer than the recently completed Artemis II mission. This serves as the final test before NASA’s goal of landing a crew on the moon during Artemis IV.
“Every aspect of Artemis III provides insights to refine our plans for Artemis IV,” Parsons explained. “This mission is purposefully designed to take calculated risks, ensuring the safety and success of future lunar crews.”
The overarching goal of NASA’s Artemis program is to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon. This year, NASA revealed plans to allocate $20 billion to facilitate the construction of a lunar base.
Originally, NASA intended for Artemis III to land astronauts on the moon, but following an overhaul by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, the mission now focuses on testing docking operations with lunar landers.
The Artemis III crew will remain close to Earth, testing rendezvous and docking maneuvers with lunar landers from SpaceX and/or Blue Origin. These operations are vital for the program, as the chosen lander must rendezvous with the Orion spacecraft, which previously carried the Artemis II crew, while orbiting the moon.
If it all goes as planned, NASA could achieve its first moon landing in over 50 years, potentially ahead of China, which has announced its own plans to send astronauts to the moon by 2030.
Parsons confirmed that critical components of the Artemis III program are progressing as planned. For instance, a newly designed heat shield has been built and tested for NASA’s Orion spacecraft.
“Our upgraded heat shields have been thoroughly inspected and are prepared for installation,” Parsons said.
Nonetheless, Blue Origin’s readiness is a point of concern due to a recent setback where one of its rockets exploded during an engine test at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, damaging facilities essential for launching its lunar module.
“Production of the Artemis III Mark February crew module and essential systems is advancing well. Our manufacturing facilities are operational around the clock,” stated Blue Origin’s John Couris. “The vehicle is scheduled for completion and anticipated readiness for launch in 2027.”
Days prior to the explosion, NASA had engaged Blue Origin for an unmanned lunar mission intended to deliver a payload later this year, marking the beginning of a series of robotic missions aimed at preparing for human landings and scouting lunar resources.
For the Artemis III launch, NASA will utilize the same framework as for Artemis II, sending the newly announced crew into space aboard the Orion spacecraft, which will be launched using a Space Launch System rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
