NASA named the Artemis III crew for a 2027 docking test that will send astronauts into low Earth orbit before the agency attempts a future Moon landing.

The Artemis III docking test is designed to check how NASA’s Orion spacecraft works with commercial lunar landers being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin, a key step before astronauts return to the lunar surface.

Artemis III Crew Announced in Houston

NASA announced the crew on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Randy “Komrade” Bresnik will command the mission, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano will serve as pilot, and NASA astronauts Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio will fly as mission specialists. NASA astronaut Bob Hines was named as the backup crew member.

The mission is planned for 2027. NASA said the Space Launch System rocket will launch Orion and the four astronauts from Kennedy Space Center in Florida into low Earth orbit.

Why the Orion Docking Test Matters

Unlike a direct Moon landing mission, Artemis III will focus on rendezvous and docking operations. Orion is expected to connect with test versions of commercial human landing systems from Blue Origin and SpaceX.

NASA said the work will help test spacecraft interfaces, software, propulsion, communications and other systems needed for future lunar missions. The agency expects the crew to remain in space for about two weeks, though the exact mission length will depend on launch timing and docking operations.

A Step Toward the 2028 Moon Landing Goal

Artemis III is now positioned as a risk-reduction mission before Artemis IV, which NASA plans as the first crewed mission to the lunar South Pole in 2028.

The approach echoes NASA’s Apollo-era testing strategy, when astronauts tested key spacecraft systems before attempting the first Moon landing. For NASA, the Artemis III crew assignment marks a major step toward proving that Orion, commercial landers and mission teams can work together before sending astronauts back to the lunar surface.