NASA names future astronauts for Artemis program on the Moon

2026-06-09 22:33:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

NASA has named its crew for its next major mission to the Moon, Artemis III, although the astronauts will not walk on the Moon or even go near it.

The mission was originally planned as the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972, with two astronauts landing near the Moon's south pole and spending a week on the surface.

But in February, NASA changed that plan and said the mission would fly only in low Earth orbit, slightly deeper into space than the International Space Station, and would dock with lunar lander prototypes.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the mission will be the most complex yet.

"This mission will require the most amazing coordination in the history of heavy rocket launches, drawing on the talent and capability of teams across the government and spaceflight community," he said.

Randy Bresnik, a NASA astronaut, will serve as the mission commander.

Luca Parmitano, of the Italian Space Agency, will be the pilot of Artemis III. He has spent more than 300 days in space.

Americans Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio will be the mission specialists.

Bob Heintz will serve as a backup crew member. He is a test pilot who has spent 170 days in space and can take on any role needed on the mission.

Artemis III was transformed from a historic manned lunar landing into a technology test in Earth orbit due to delays in Elon Musk's SpaceX Starship rocket, the vehicle intended to carry astronauts from lunar orbit to its surface.

It was also considered a huge step to go from a lunar orbiter with Artemis II to a lunar landing without first testing the docking procedure with the lunar module in Earth orbit.

In March 2026, the Government Accountability Office found that SpaceX had made "limited progress in developing technologies necessary for in-orbit refueling and cryogenic propellant storage."

The spacecraft is so heavy that it can't reach the Moon without first being refueled in Earth orbit. That involves launching a fleet of tanker vehicles that transfer cryogenic liquid methane and liquid oxygen in succession, a highly ambitious maneuver that has yet to be tested.

NASA's moon mission team suffered a further setback last month when its other partner, Blue Origin, saw its New Glenn rocket explode during a routine engine test./CNA, translated by BBC