NASA Named Four Astronauts for Artemis III Test Flight
The 2027 orbital mission will test docking maneuvers with commercial lunar landers before future surface landings.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Space
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NASA has announced the four-member crew for the Artemis III mission, which is now structured as a two-week crewed orbital test flight. The mission is scheduled for 2027 following the conclusion of the Artemis II lunar orbit return in April 2026.
Why it matters
The mission aims to validate spacecraft docking systems and establish operational tempo by performing rendezvous maneuvers with commercial lunar landers. These verification steps are required before NASA proceeds to the crewed lunar landing planned for the Artemis IV mission.
The mission will utilize the Orion capsule launched atop the Space Launch System rocket for a two-week orbital profile. Engineers are currently processing the core stage components at the Vehicle Assembly Building to support the upcoming docking validation tests.
The players
NASA
The United States government agency responsible for the civilian space program, aeronautics research, and human spaceflight missions.
Randy Bresnik
The assigned mission commander for the Artemis III test flight.
Luca Parmitano
The designated pilot for the Artemis III orbital mission.
Andre Douglas
A crew member assigned to the upcoming Artemis III test flight.
Frank Rubio
A crew member assigned to the upcoming Artemis III test flight.
The details
The Artemis III mission will perform orbital rendezvous and docking operations with landers built by SpaceX and Blue Origin. This architecture relies on the Orion capsule, a multi-purpose crew vehicle designed for deep space, which will be lifted by the heavy-lift Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. To prepare for flight, NASA is completing structural integration while performing fueling simulations and wet dress rehearsals—a full mission rehearsal involving cryogenic propellant loading—at the Kennedy Space Center.
Timeline
April 2026: The Artemis II mission returned to Earth.
2027: The Artemis III orbital test flight is scheduled.
The Tech Race
This orbital test flight represents a strategic adjustment to the Artemis mission sequence, prioritizing commercial lander compatibility over an immediate landing attempt. By establishing this benchmark, NASA aligns its flight manifest with the integration requirements of partners like SpaceX and Blue Origin.
The mission schedule is set for 2027, with the crew currently preparing for integration exercises at Kennedy Space Center. Public visibility into the program will increase as NASA completes structural assembly and begins its series of fueling simulations and wet dress rehearsals.
The takeaway
The Artemis III mission serves as a critical technical bridge, shifting the focus from lunar orbit to validating rendezvous maneuvers with new commercial hardware. Interested observers should monitor upcoming wet dress rehearsals at Kennedy Space Center as the primary indicator of mission readiness for the 2027 launch window.
Further reading
For more on the agency's upcoming flight manifest, see our latest coverage in Space.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Boca Raton Tribune.
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