A test of preparation for the definitive return to the lunar surface
Artemis 3 shifts focus from lunar orbit to low Earth orbit testing of experimental landing modules and new spacesuits for future lunar missions. Top candidates include Raja Chari, Jasmin Moghbeli, Nicole Mann, and Kayla Barron, all with ISS command experience and direct involvement in Artemis hardware development.
- NASA announces Artemis 3 crew on Tuesday, June 9, 2026
- Artemis 3 will operate in low Earth orbit testing experimental lunar landing modules and new spacesuits
- Top candidates: Raja Chari, Jasmin Moghbeli, Nicole Mann, Kayla Barron, Andre Douglas
- Artemis 2 crew (Wiseman, Glover, Koch, Hansen) ineligible for consecutive assignment
- ESA participation possible; all four seats may go to NASA astronauts
NASA will announce four astronauts for Artemis 3, prioritizing technical expertise and experience with untested lunar landing systems in low Earth orbit testing.
On Tuesday, NASA will name the four astronauts chosen for Artemis 3, the next chapter in a program designed to establish sustained human presence on the Moon and test the systems that will eventually land people on its surface. The announcement arrives with considerable public interest, much of it kindled by the successful completion of Artemis 2 in April—a ten-day journey around the Moon that carried Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch from NASA, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. That mission flew the Orion capsule in an unpiloted lunar orbit for the first time with humans aboard, tracing a figure-eight path and validating critical systems under real mission conditions.
Artemis 3 will chart a different course. Rather than repeat the lunar orbit profile, this mission will operate in low Earth orbit, where the crew will practice rendezvous and docking maneuvers with lunar landing vehicles still under development. The work transforms the mission into a large-scale integration test between the crewed spacecraft and experimental landing modules. Equally important is the evaluation of new spacesuits designed for extravehicular activity—the spacewalks that will eventually enable astronauts to work on the lunar surface. This requirement alone narrows the field significantly: NASA needs people with prior experience leaving the safety of an orbiting station and operating in the vacuum of space.
NASA has contracted two primary lunar landing systems: SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon module. Both are central to the agency's strategy for reaching the surface in later Artemis phases, yet neither has been selected as the definitive vehicle for the first crewed landing. This technological uncertainty shapes crew selection directly. Artemis 3 will serve as a proving ground for procedures involving systems that remain in development, demanding astronauts with strong technical backgrounds, adaptability, and comfort working with spacecraft that have never flown before.
The pool of candidates excludes the Artemis 2 crew—NASA typically avoids assigning astronauts to consecutive missions. Similarly, several astronauts currently stationed on the International Space Station, including Jessica Meir and Jessica Watkins, lack sufficient training time. Jack Hathaway, Chris Williams, and Luke Delaney are unlikely selections due to conflicting schedules or insufficient operational experience. Kate Rubins, who made history by sequencing DNA in space, retired in 2025. Administrative roles have sidelined others like Joe Acaba, Kjell Lindgren, and Scott Tingle, despite their credentials.
The strongest candidates have recent spaceflight experience coupled with direct involvement in Artemis hardware development. Raja Chari, returning from an ISS mission, moved into roles overseeing the NASA lunar landing system, including hardware integration and equipment testing. His background as a test pilot and his spacewalk experience position him prominently. Jasmin Moghbeli commanded an ISS mission and subsequently worked on Artemis systems; her aerospace engineering degree and military background align with the agency's needs. Nicole Mann, an ISS mission commander with spacewalk experience, participated in Orion capsule development and Artemis support systems. Kayla Barron brings ISS experience, spacewalk credentials, and work on Artemis operational concepts, though her background tilts more toward future lunar landing missions than the immediate Artemis 3 objectives.
Other names in consideration include Matthew Dominick, Frank Rubio, and Warren Hoburg—all with recent spaceflight but less direct involvement in Artemis-specific systems. Stephanie Wilson, who flew three Space Shuttle missions including the return to flight after Columbia and subsequent ISS assembly and resupply operations, remains under evaluation despite years away from flight. Loral O'Hara, Nichole Ayers, and Zena Cardman represent a newer generation with recent ISS experience and solid technical training. Andre Douglas merits particular attention: he served as backup for Artemis 2, training directly with the primary crew—a historical indicator of advancement to a principal flight assignment.
International participation remains possible. Canada already contributed Jeremy Hansen to Artemis 2, and the European Space Agency could nominate an astronaut for the new mission. Names circulating include Samantha Cristoforetti, Matthias Maurer, and Alexander Gerst. The ESA's responsibility for critical Orion capsule components strengthens its negotiating position, though shifts in Artemis planning could reshape that involvement. Still, the most likely scenario has all four seats filled by NASA astronauts, with Chari, Mann, Barron, and Douglas forming the core selection, supported by a broader pool of technically qualified alternatives. The final decision will weigh flight experience, technical capability, and familiarity with experimental systems—because Artemis 3 is less a mission of exploration than a dress rehearsal for humanity's return to the lunar surface.
Notable Quotes
Artemis 3 will serve as a proving ground for procedures involving systems that remain in development, demanding astronauts with strong technical backgrounds, adaptability, and comfort working with spacecraft that have never flown before.— Mission requirements
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does Artemis 3 need such a different kind of astronaut than Artemis 2?
Artemis 2 was a test flight—fly the capsule, prove it works, come home. Artemis 3 is a workshop. The crew will be docking with landing vehicles that don't exist yet, testing spacesuits that are still being refined, working with hardware that's never flown. You need people who can adapt when something doesn't behave as planned.
So technical expertise matters more than, say, the ability to handle danger?
It's not either-or. But yes, a test pilot or an engineer who's worked on these systems understands what they're looking at when something goes wrong. They can troubleshoot. They can communicate what's happening back to the ground in ways that matter.
I notice several candidates have commanded ISS missions. Why is that relevant?
Command experience means you've made decisions under pressure, managed a crew, handled emergencies. It's not just about flying—it's about leading when things get complicated. And many of these commanders also worked on Artemis development after their ISS tour, so they know both the operational side and the engineering side.
What about the international angle? Could a European astronaut actually fly this mission?
It's possible. The ESA built critical parts of the Orion capsule, so they have leverage in negotiations. But it's also political. NASA might decide it needs all four seats for its own people, or it might want to strengthen ties with Europe. The technical qualifications exist either way.
If I had to guess, who flies?
Chari, Mann, Barron, and Douglas. They have the flight time, the technical depth, the Artemis involvement. But Andre Douglas is the interesting one—he trained as backup for Artemis 2. Historically, that's how NASA promotes people to prime crews. He's the one to watch.