NASA on Tuesday shared fresh details about the Artemis III mission and introduced the four main crew members along with one backup astronaut for the upcoming test flight. According to the agency, the mission will conduct a number of complex tests in Earth orbit in 2027, which are considered crucial preparations for Artemis IV — the first planned crewed mission to the Moon’s South Pole in 2028.

The Artemis III crew consists of NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik as commander, ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano as pilot, and NASA astronauts Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio as mission specialists. NASA astronaut Bob Hines has been selected as the backup crew member. NASA stated that the astronauts will immediately begin training on Orion spacecraft systems and will also support the development and operation of the test versions of lunar landers being built by Blue Origin and SpaceX.

During the Artemis III mission, NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket will launch the Orion spacecraft and its crew from Kennedy Space Center in Florida into low Earth orbit. After system checks, Orion will demonstrate rendezvous and docking operations for the first time with test versions of one or both commercial landing systems under development by Blue Origin and SpaceX.

The mission will involve multiple launches of some of the world’s most powerful rockets and will test the integration between Orion and the landers, including software, communications, propulsion systems, and other interfaces. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman described the announcement as another major milestone in humanity’s return to the Moon. He said the Artemis II astronauts had revived global enthusiasm for space exploration and that the Artemis III crew would carry that momentum forward alongside NASA’s international partners.

The mission also marks the first time an ESA astronaut has been assigned to an Artemis mission. Building on the successful Artemis II flight completed in April, Artemis III is expected to help NASA prepare for future crewed missions to Mars. As part of the mission plan, Blue Origin’s lander pathfinder will launch first and remain in orbit awaiting the crew. Orion, carrying the astronauts aboard the SLS rocket, will later rendezvous and dock with the lander for about two days of testing and technology demonstrations.

After completing operations with Blue Origin’s spacecraft, Orion will separate and wait for SpaceX’s Starship pathfinder, which will then launch and dock with Orion for additional testing lasting about a day. Following the completion of all tests, Orion and its crew will return to Earth and splash down safely in the Pacific Ocean, where NASA and U.S. Navy teams will recover the astronauts. The crew is expected to spend nearly two weeks in space, although the exact duration will depend on launch schedules and docking operations.