NASA will announce the astronaut crew for its Artemis III mission and provide an update on mission progress during a live event on Tuesday, June 9, at 11 a.m. EDT from the Johnson Space Center in Houston.
What happened
The announcement will introduce the four astronauts selected for the Artemis III flight test, which aims to land humans on the Moon once again. NASA will stream the event live via its NASA+ app and YouTube channel, making it accessible to the public worldwide.
After the announcement, the Artemis III crew will be available for a limited number of in-person and virtual media interviews. Members of the press must submit interview requests to the Johnson Space Center newsroom by 5 p.m. EDT on June 4. Non-U.S. journalists interested in attending must contact NASA by May 28.
Artemis III will launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the Orion spacecraft, carried by the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. This mission will test critical rendezvous and docking capabilities between Orion and commercial human landing systems designed to transport astronauts to the lunar surface.
The upcoming mission builds on the success of Artemis II, the first crewed Artemis flight conducted in April, advancing NASA’s broader lunar exploration goals.
Why it matters
Artemis III represents a critical step toward establishing sustained human presence on and around the Moon. By demonstrating key spacecraft operations and landing capabilities, NASA aims to foster scientific discovery and economic opportunities on the lunar surface.
The mission also lays foundational experience necessary for future crewed missions to Mars, positioning Artemis as a cornerstone for deep space exploration in the coming decades.
Background
The Artemis program is NASA’s flagship lunar exploration initiative aimed at returning astronauts to the Moon for the first time since 1972. It includes a series of increasingly complex missions to test new technologies and capabilities in preparation for eventual human missions to Mars.
Artemis II successfully completed its crewed flight test in April 2024, validating Orion and SLS performance. Artemis III will be the first Artemis mission to attempt a lunar landing, partnering with commercial providers who will supply the human landing system to deliver astronauts to the Moon’s surface.
For more information on the Artemis program, visit NASA’s Artemis site.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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