NASA Unveils Astronaut Team for Pivotal Artemis III Mission
WHO:
Phys.org - Luca Parmitano, an Italian astronaut, will be the pilot of NASA's Artemis 3 mission, making him the first European to join one of the program's missions.
Space.com - NASA named the astronauts for the Artemis 3 mission.
NBC News - Four astronauts were named for the Artemis III mission.
WHAT:
NASA - NASA will host an exhibit at the FIFA Fan Festival™ in Houston, showcasing how research aboard the International Space Station benefits life on Earth and experiences related to the Artemis program.
Space.com - The Artemis 3 mission will test docking procedures in Earth orbit.
ABC News - The Artemis III mission is planned to launch the crew in the Orion spacecraft on top of the Space Launch System rocket.
ABC News - The mission is scheduled for 2027.
WHERE:
NBC News - The Artemis III mission is part of NASA's return-to-the-moon program.
WHEN:
NASA - The NASA exhibit at the FIFA Fan Festival™ in Houston will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
ABC News - The planned moon landing associated with the Artemis III mission is set for 2028.
WHY:
NBC News - The Artemis III mission is described as the next major step in NASA's return-to-the-moon program.
HOW:
Space.com - The mission will utilize the Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System rocket for the launch.
(UPDATED June 9, 2026 19:40 UTC)
Luca Parmitano, an Italian astronaut, has been named the pilot of NASA's Artemis 3 mission, making him the first European to participate in one of the program's missions. In addition, NASA will host an exhibit at the FIFA Fan Festival™ in Houston, highlighting how research aboard the International Space Station benefits life on Earth and showcasing experiences related to the Artemis program. This exciting exhibit is set to take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
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(UPDATED June 9, 2026 17:39 UTC)
NASA has officially named the four astronauts who will participate in the Artemis III mission, marking a significant milestone in its return-to-the-moon program. This mission is designed to test docking procedures in Earth orbit and is set to launch the crew aboard the Orion spacecraft, which will be propelled by the Space Launch System rocket. Scheduled for 2027, the Artemis III mission is described as the next major step in NASA's efforts to return humans to the lunar surface. The planned moon landing associated with this mission is set for 2028, promising to advance our exploration of space. With these developments, excitement continues to build around NASA's ambitious goals for lunar exploration.