NASA has announced the crew for its Artemis III mission, advancing the agency’s plan to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since the 1970s.

The crew includes NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik (commander), Frank Rubio, Andre Douglas, and European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano. Rather than traveling to the moon, they will spend two weeks in Earth orbit practicing docking the Orion spacecraft with two lunar landers currently in development by SpaceX and Blue Origin.

The mission, targeted for 2027, serves as a major dress rehearsal for the eventual Artemis III lunar landing, now planned for 2028 under a revamped and accelerated schedule announced by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.

“To the Artemis III crew, we wish you Godspeed on the journey ahead,” Isaacman said.

Bresnik expressed humility on behalf of the crew, while Douglas described the moment as overwhelming but deeply meaningful. The announcement comes two months after the successful Artemis II mission, which set a new distance record for crewed spaceflight beyond the moon.

Blue Origin recently experienced a setback when its large rocket exploded during a test in Florida, but NASA officials described it as a learning opportunity and remain confident the company will meet the timeline. The program also includes contracts for landers, rovers, and infrastructure to support a future lunar base as a stepping stone for Mars exploration.