NASA announced the crew for the upcoming Artemis III mission, revealing that no women will participate. This decision sparked controversy, particularly after Alexandra Doten, known as Astro Alexandra, criticized the choice publicly.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman responded, recognizing the mix of disappointment and outrage. He explained that the selection process considers various factors, including astronauts’ training, skills, and availability. This may have influenced the choices, as some astronauts are already assigned to other missions.

The crew for Artemis III includes NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, and Andre Douglas, along with European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano. Scheduled to launch no earlier than the summer of 2027, their mission is to test two lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin in Earth orbit. These tests will be crucial for the upcoming Artemis IV mission in 2028.

The Artemis IV mission will involve docking one of these landers with NASA’s Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit and transporting astronauts to the moon’s surface. The lander will then return to dock with Orion to bring the crew back to Earth.

NASA had promised to land the first woman and the first person of color on the moon during the Artemis program. However, references to these goals have been removed from some NASA websites, following former President Donald Trump’s policy changes against diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Isaacman assures that political appointees did not influence NASA’s selection process. The agency may reserve its experienced female astronauts for the Artemis IV mission, but that crew has not been announced.

Among NASA’s 37 active astronauts eligible for missions, 15 are women. The latest class of astronaut candidates also featured a female majority for the first time. Jasmine Singh, an astronomy doctoral student with a significant following on social media, expressed disappointment over the absence of women in the Artemis III crew.

Isaacman noted the Artemis III crew’s qualifications, urging celebration for each mission as part of a broader effort to return America to the moon and inspire future generations. Bresnik will serve as the mission commander, Parmitano as the pilot, with Douglas and Rubio as mission specialists. NASA astronaut Bob Hines will train as a backup crew member.