NASA has announced the four astronauts for Artemis III, a mission that will remain in low-Earth orbit to test docking with commercial lunar landers. The crew includes veterans and a record-holding astronaut.
The mission is a stepping stone toward returning humans to the lunar surface. - Commander Randy Bresnik (NASA) leads the crew, with pilot Luca Parmitano (ESA) and mission specialists Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas (NASA).
- Artemis III will dock with Blue Origin's Blue Moon MK2 and SpaceX's Starship in orbit, paving the way for Artemis IV's lunar landing. - The mission faces challenges: SpaceX's Starship is grounded after a booster issue, and Blue Origin's launch pad was damaged in an explosion.
- NASA aims to launch Artemis III in 2026, with Artemis IV targeting a 2028 lunar surface return.