NASA Faces Criticism Over All-Male Artemis III Crew Selection

When NASA’s Artemis III mission takes off next year, no women will be part of the crew. This decision has sparked controversy following the agency’s recent announcement of the four astronauts chosen for the mission. Space influencer Alexandra Doten, known as Astro Alexandra, expressed her discontent on social media, calling the absence of women on the mission an ‘insane choice.’

Jared Isaacman, the NASA Administrator, responded to the backlash, acknowledging the public’s disappointment. He explained that the selection of astronauts considers their availability and skill sets. Some might not have been chosen for this mission because they are part of planned International Space Station expeditions or other future Artemis missions.

The Artemis III crew includes NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, and Andre Douglas, along with Luca Parmitano from the European Space Agency. Their mission, scheduled for summer 2027, aims to test two commercially developed moon landers. These tests will take place in Earth’s orbit over approximately two weeks. These landers, constructed by SpaceX and Blue Origin, will potentially transport astronauts during the Artemis IV mission in 2028.

The upcoming mission focuses on demonstrating the docking operations between NASA’s Orion capsule and the new lunar landers. For Artemis IV in the following year, a lander will connect with the Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit, carrying astronauts to the moon’s surface. The mission concludes with the lander returning to the moon’s orbit, docking with Orion, and bringing the crew back to Earth.

Previously, NASA committed to landing the first woman and the first person of color on the moon within the Artemis program. However, statements pertaining to diversity were removed from some websites, coinciding with former President Donald Trump’s stance against diversity, equity, and inclusion. Isaacman clarified that political appointees do not influence NASA’s crew selection, addressing concerns about potential interference from the Trump administration.

The Artemis IV mission crew has not been announced yet, but NASA’s roster includes numerous qualified female astronauts. Among NASA’s 37 active astronauts, 15 are women. Last year marked a milestone as more women were included in NASA’s new class of astronaut candidates than ever before.

Jasmine Singh, an astronomy doctoral student popular on social media, expressed that the absence of women in Artemis III dealt a ‘huge blow’ to those inspired by NASA astronaut Christina Koch’s accomplishments during Artemis II. Singh emphasized the importance of representation for inspiration in scientific achievements.

In his statement, Isaacman mentioned, ‘The Artemis III astronauts are experienced, qualified, and deserve to be celebrated for their mission. Each mission contributes to the broader effort of America returning to the Moon and realizing the dreams of the future.’

For the Artemis III mission, Bresnik will command the team. Parmitano takes the role of pilot, with Douglas and Rubio as mission specialists. NASA astronaut Bob Hines will train as a backup crew member.