Revealed the Astronauts of Artemis III: Luca Parmitano is Here!

At 5:30 PM (Italian time) on June 9, a NASA live stream took place where the names of the four astronauts leading the Artemis III mission were finally announced. But first, let’s take a step back: how will Artemis III unfold?

What Kind of Mission Will Artemis III Be?

Artemis III will have a purpose quite different from that of Artemis II, both from a technical and scientific perspective; while the recently concluded mission focused on the Moon, Artemis III will remain in low Earth orbit. The mission, scheduled for 2027, aims to conduct a series of tests to verify the reliability of the docking and life support systems of two commercial landers provided by two different companies: Starship from SpaceX and Blue Moon from Blue Origin.

The next step in the Artemis program indeed involves a highly complex and finely coordinated multi-launch campaign, the trailblazer of which will not be the Orion capsule, but rather the lander from Blue Origin, which can remain in space for up to 90 days. This extended timeframe will allow for greater flexibility in launching the Orion capsule via the SLS launcher, carrying the crew trained for all the important tests that will be conducted. The crew will fly in low Earth orbit (LEO) and will perform rendezvous maneuvers with the lander from Blue Origin, followed by docking maneuvers and tests that will include the crew's passage through the hatch and life support system testing procedures. These procedures will last approximately two days, after which Orion will detach from the lander and await Starship from SpaceX. Once both modules are in orbit, Orion and Starship will remain docked for about a day before preparations begin for re-entry with a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

From a scientific perspective, Artemis III will aim to study the Earth's atmosphere, the environment around Orion, and the influence of space on the capsule. Although Artemis IV will not have the shielding provided by the Earth's magnetic field, the data collected from Artemis III will be vital in many fields of study. These tests and the related data collected will be essential for securing the procedures necessary for the success of Artemis IV, which will return humans to the lunar surface.

The Chosen Crew Finally Revealed

Following updates on the status of the mission and its collaborations, the crew of Artemis III has been presented. The announcement was opened by a supporting figure: Bob Hines.

Test pilot, Air Force colonel, and pilot of SpaceX Crew 4, Bob has accumulated a total of 170 days in space with two expeditions aboard the ISS. Although he is not part of the main crew, this key figure will be a backup member who will follow the entire training path alongside the four astronauts of Artemis III, ready to step in at any moment for any role necessary to ensure the continuity of the mission in case of unforeseen events.

Next was the turn of the mission specialist: test engineer and Coast Guard commander, Andre Douglas. Already slated as a reserve crew member for Artemis II, Douglas will experience his first journey into space with Artemis III.

Then came the mission specialist Frank Rubio. An Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot with an impressive number of flight hours, he also holds the record for the U.S. astronaut with the most consecutive days spent in space: a remarkable 371 days. But that’s not all; in addition to being a pilot and astronaut, Rubio is also a general practitioner.

Next was the pilot of Artemis III, a role filled by an astronaut well-known in Italy: Luca Parmitano. An ESA astronaut with two trips aboard the ISS, a colonel in the Italian Air Force, Parmitano was the first Italian commander of the ISS and will be the only European member of the mission.

Finally, the mission commander: Randy Bresnik. Also a former commander of the International Space Station, a colonel in the Marine Corps, and a test pilot with over 7,000 flight hours, Bresnik will lead Artemis III.

The four astronauts passed the microphone with emotion, expressing deep gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the mission and to their families, who will continue to support them during the training period and eagerly await their return. Now that the team is complete, the eyes of the world are all focused on the launch pad.

In the cover photo: group photo of the Artemis III mission crew; from left: Andre Douglas, Luca Parmitano, Randy Bresnik, and Frank Rubio. Source: NASA.