NASA is preparing for its next mission to the moon, Artemis III, which will feature an all-male crew of four astronauts. The team includes Commander Randy Bresnik, Pilot Luca Parmitano from the European Space Agency, and Mission Specialists Frank Rubio and Andre Douglas. Notably, Douglas is Black, and Rubio is the first astronaut of Salvadoran descent to go to space.
The Artemis II mission, launched in April, brought four astronauts to the moon’s vicinity, marking significant milestones. Victor Glover was the first Black man to participate in such a mission, while Christina Koch became the first woman. Jeremy Hansen represented Canada as the first Canadian astronaut in the Artemis program.
In a media briefing, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated that the selection for Artemis III was based on the capabilities required for the mission. Despite no women being included, NASA emphasized that this decision should not influence perceptions of their selection process. The agency noted that its latest astronaut candidate group included more women than men.
NASA had initially pledged to land the first woman, the first person of color, and the first non-American astronaut on the moon. However, this commitment was removed from its website following a federal change in diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in early 2025.
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