NASA Announces Artemis-3 Mission Crew for Lunar Landing Preparations

Kathmandu. NASA, moving forward with the goal of human re-landing on the moon, has announced the crew for the Artemis-3 mission's test flight. This historic test will feature four main astronauts and one alternate (backup) member. They will participate in complex orbital tests scheduled for 2027.

According to NASA, this test flight will be a crucial preparatory phase for the first crewed Artemis-4 mission, which is planned to be sent to the moon's south pole in 2028.

The announced crew includes NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik (Commander), European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Luca Parmitano (Pilot), NASA astronaut Andre Douglas (Mission Specialist), and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio (Mission Specialist). NASA's Bob Hines has been named as the alternate crew member.

According to NASA, the crew will now begin training on the Orion spacecraft systems. They will also assist in testing and operating the lunar landers being developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX.

As per the mission plan, the Artemis-3 mission will see NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket launch the Orion spacecraft and crew into Earth's orbit from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Subsequently, Orion will complete various tests in orbit and practice rendezvous and docking with commercial human landing systems.

During this process, separate rendezvous and docking practices will be conducted with test versions of the landers developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX. This will evaluate complex technologies such as multi-launch, spacecraft coordination, system integration, software, communication, and fuel system testing.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that this announcement is another significant step in humanity's journey to the moon. According to him, the success of the Artemis mission has reignited global enthusiasm for space exploration, and the Artemis-2 team will now further advance that journey.

He emphasized the role of international partnership, noting that collaboration with ESA and other partner organizations will help usher in a new 'golden age of space'. NASA considers the formal inclusion of a European Space Agency astronaut in the Artemis mission for the first time as a historic step.

According to NASA, the Artemis-3 mission follows the successful Artemis-2 flight and will provide a foundation for the long-term plan of sending humans from the moon to Mars in the future.

As per the mission concept, Blue Origin's lander Pathfinder will be launched into orbit first and will remain in orbit for a few weeks, preparing for testing. Then, the Orion spacecraft, with the crew, will enter orbit and dock with the lander for approximately two days for system testing.

Following this, another phase of rendezvous and testing will be conducted with SpaceX's Starship lander Pathfinder. After all tests are completed, Orion will return to Earth and land in the Pacific Ocean, where US Navy and NASA teams will safely recover the astronauts.

Overall, this test mission is expected to last about two weeks. However, NASA has indicated that the duration may change slightly based on launch, rendezvous, and docking procedures.