NASA prepares Artemis III: Four astronauts to test spacecraft docking before return to Moon

By Erick León

On October 23, 2026, NASA detailed preparations for Artemis III, a crewed mission planned for 2027 that will test rendezvous and docking maneuvers in Earth orbit needed for future journeys to the lunar surface.

According to the agency, astronauts Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, Andre Douglas and Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency will travel aboard Orion. During a planned 14-day mission, they will work with test vehicles developed by Blue Origin and SpaceX.

The demonstrations will test docking procedures, communications, habitability and joint spacecraft operations. The aim is to reduce risks before astronauts return to the Moon’s surface, currently planned for 2028.

NASA stressed that Artemis III will be a test mission in low Earth orbit: its crew is not expected to land on the Moon during this flight. Plans and dates remain subject to technical progress and safety testing.

Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration, not a documentary photograph.

Primary source: NASA, October 23, 2026.

Read the original version. Originally published on October 25, 2026.

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