NASA unveils Artemis III astronauts to test technology for a future moon landing

NASA unveils Artemis III astronauts to test technology for a future Moon Landing 1 of 3 | NASA revealed the crew for its Artemis III mission - NASA’s Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, Andre Douglas and the European Space Agency’s Luca Parmitano - the next step in the space agency’s plan to eventually land astronauts on the moon. 2 of 3 | This undated photo provided by NASA Tuesday, June 9, 2026, shows the Artemis III crew including, from left, Andre Douglas, Luca Parmitano, Randy Bresnik and Frank Rubio, posing for an official portrait. (Bill Stafford/NASA via AP) 3 of 3 | In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this view of an Earthset on April 6, 2026, as they flew around the moon. (NASA via AP, File) 1 of 3 NASA revealed the crew for its Artemis III mission - NASA’s Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, Andre Douglas and the European Space Agency’s Luca Parmitano - the next step in the space agency’s plan to eventually land astronauts on the moon. Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 3 | This undated photo provided by NASA Tuesday, June 9, 2026, shows the Artemis III crew including, from left, Andre Douglas, Luca Parmitano, Randy Bresnik and Frank Rubio, posing for an official portrait. (Bill Stafford/NASA via AP) 2 of 3 This undated photo provided by NASA Tuesday, June 9, 2026, shows the Artemis III crew including, from left, Andre Douglas, Luca Parmitano, Randy Bresnik and Frank Rubio, posing for an official portrait. (Bill Stafford/NASA via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 3 | In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this view of an Earthset on April 6, 2026, as they flew around the moon. (NASA via AP, File) 3 of 3 In this image provided by NASA, the Artemis II crew captured this view of an Earthset on April 6, 2026, as they flew around the moon. (NASA via AP, File) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] NEW YORK (AP) — NASA on Tuesday revealed the crew for its Artemis III mission, the next step in the space agency’s plan to eventually land astronauts on the moon. The announcement came two months after Artemis II’s record-breaking trip around the moon that surpassed the distance record of Apollo 13. NASA’s Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, Andre Douglas and the European Space Agency’s Luca Parmitano won’t fly to the moon or land on the surface. Instead, they’ll orbit Earth while practicing docking their Orion capsule with two lunar landers.“To the Artemis III crew, we wish you Godspeed on the journey ahead,” said NASA administrator Jared Isaacman. AP AUDIO: NASA unveils Artemis III astronauts to test technology for a future Moon Landing NASA picks a new crew to practice docking runs ahead of the planned Moon Landing mission. The AP’s Jennifer King reports. Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin are racing to deliver the lunar landers. The two-week demo is targeted for 2027. Blue Origin suffered a recent setback when its massive rocket exploded during an engine-firing test on the launch pad in Florida, shaking nearby homes and illuminating the sky with an orange fireball. NASA’s Jeremy Parsons said the setback is a learning opportunity and that the space agency is confident Blue Origin’s rocket will be ready in time. 1 MIN READ 1 MIN READ 1 MIN READ NASA’s Artemis program aims to return astronauts to the moon’s surface for the first time since the 1970s. A recent revamp of the program announced by Isaacman aims to fast-track it similarly to the Apollo era, adding the upcoming spaceflight around Earth before eyeing a lunar landing in 2028. “We are certainly humbled as a crew to be able to be your crew that executes this Artemis III mission in space,” said Bresnik, Artemis III commander.Added Douglas, mission specialist: “My brain — it is going a mile a minute right now. But my heart, it is so warm. It is so full.”In May, NASA awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to four companies, including Blue Origin, to build landers, rovers and drones for a future moon base. Isaacman said the goal of the moon base is to lay the foundation for a Mars expedition. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.