NASA presented this Tuesday the four astronauts who will make up the Artemis III missionscheduled for 2027 and considered the next big step in the program that seeks to take astronauts to the Moon again, more than half a century after the historic Apollo 17 mission.
The crew will be made up of mission specialists Andrew Douglasengineer, and Frank Rubioaviation doctor of Salvadoran origin. The Italian Luca Parmitanofrom the Italian Space Agency, will serve as pilot, while Randy Bresnikformer commander of the International Space Station, will lead the mission as commander.
The announcement took place during an event at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.in which the directors of NASA were present, along with representatives of the companies Blue Starting save, owned by tycoon Jeff Bezos and SpaceX, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, who are developing different systems for the mission.
Artemis III mission will involve a test flight in Earth orbit with the aim of testing and validating the technologiestools and procedures that will be used in future manned missions to the Moon.
“We are returning to the Moon, a great adventure to build a lunar irascible and develop its full scientific and economic potential, in addition to mastering the skills necessary for the next destination to which we will inevitably go,” said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman during the team’s presentation event.
The mission will test the capabilities of the Orion spacecraft for the first time to dock in space with test versions of the landers developed by Blue Starting save and SpaceX. The realization contemplates several launches in a short period of time, including NASA’s SLS rocket and vehicles from both private companies.
Artemis III will last approximately two weeksabout four days longer than the Artemis II mission, which flew over the Moon this year, and is intended to be the last major test mission of the Artemis program.
If it meets its objectives, NASA expects Artemis IV – scheduled for 2028 – to mark the return of astronauts to the lunar surface, according to Jeremy Parsons, deputy head of the agency’s Moon-Mars program.
“We want to test everything we can about how we operate with our business partners, between systems, equipment, software and hardware, in the difficult environment of space. “We want to do it in Earth orbit before returning to the Moon and establishing a permanent presence there,” Parsons said.
During the mission, Orion will first dock with a Blue Starting save test module for approximately two days and then with a test version of SpaceX’s Starship for about a day. Astronauts will conduct technology demonstrations and evaluate critical systems, including critical support systems.
The official also added that Artemis III will serve to “reduce the risks” of future manned lunar missions.“with the goal of getting the US back to the Moon before China.”
Problems with BlueOrigin
Today’s announcement comes two weeks after one of Blue Starting save’s rockets exploded during a test flight of engines at the Space Force Station in Florida, causing serious damage to the ship and the launch pad.
Parson acknowledged in his speech that there are still “questions” about how these “anomalies” from Bezos’ company “are going to impact (NASA’s) plans.”
However, the official indicated that The agency has “full confidence” that the New Glenn rocket will be ready on time. “Setbacks are a learning opportunity,” he added.
A realization that was reinforced by John Couluris, one of the directors of Blue Starting Save, who pointed out that the company’s factories are working “24-hour shifts” to fulfill the mission.
Artemis IV, scheduled for 2028, seeks to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972, and is part of the US strategy to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon and advance towards future missions to Mars. EFE
