NASA is gearing up for the Artemis 3 mission, and the speculation is on as to who will be chosen for the four-person crew. With the announcement scheduled for June 9, the focus is on the astronauts who will be tasked with a very different mission from Artemis 2. The Artemis 3 crew will be responsible for practicing rendezvous and docking maneuvers in low Earth orbit, rather than the moon landing. This means that NASA will be looking for astronauts with experience piloting new or unproven vehicles, and at least one or two candidates who've completed a spacewalk. The agency has already contracted SpaceX's Starship and Blue Origin's Blue Moon spacecraft as Human Landing System landers, and the decision on which will be awarded the first crewed landing will depend on the outcome of Artemis 3.
The Artemis 3 crew is expected to be a mix of experienced and new astronauts, with a focus on those with technical specialties and backgrounds. The timing and crew schedules aboard the International Space Station also play a significant role in who will be available for the training leading up to the mission. While some astronauts from the original Artemis cadre are likely to be considered, others may be ruled out due to their schedules and experience.
One thing that immediately stands out is the importance of experience with new or unproven vehicles. NASA will be looking for astronauts who have worked with the Human Landing System landers, and those with experience piloting spacecraft will be at an advantage. The Artemis 3 crew will also need to be comfortable with extravehicular activity (EVA), so astronauts with spacewalk experience will be highly sought after.
In my opinion, the top-tier candidates for the Artemis 3 crew include Raja Chari, Nicole Mann, Kayla Barron, and Andre Douglas. Chari has extensive experience with the Human Landing System and has performed two EVAs during his time aboard the space station. Mann has a strong background in test piloting and mechanical engineering, and has completed two EVAs. Barron has worked to support operational concepts for the Artemis program, including its next-generation spacesuits and lunar rovers. And Douglas, as the backup crew for Artemis 2, has extensive familiarity with Orion and mission procedures.
The middle-tier candidates include Jasmin Moghbeli, Frank Rubio, Zena Cardman, and Stephanie Wilson. Moghbeli has aerospace engineering and test piloting experience, and has played a role in HLS development. Rubio has piloting experience, and has worked on NASA's independent Orion heat shield review team. Cardman has a background in biology and has conducted research in microgravity. And Wilson has three space shuttle launches under her belt, although her last mission was in 2010.
The bottom-tier candidates include Anne McClain, Jonny Kim, Woody Hoburg, Nichole Ayers, and Loral O'Hara. McClain has a background in aerospace engineering and has served as a U.S. Army aviator and test pilot. Kim has an extensive background that includes experience as a special-operations Navy SEAL, pilot, physician, combat medic, and flight surgeon. Ayers has a background in biology and has conducted research in microgravity. O'Hara has a background in biology and has conducted research in microgravity. While Hoburg has served on NASA’s independent Orion heat shield review team, he hasn't had as much hands-on experience with the spacecraft's operations.
In conclusion, the Artemis 3 crew will be a mix of experienced and new astronauts, with a focus on those with technical specialties and backgrounds. The top-tier candidates include Chari, Mann, Barron, and Douglas, while the middle-tier candidates include Moghbeli, Rubio, Cardman, and Wilson. The bottom-tier candidates include McClain, Kim, Hoburg, Ayers, and O'Hara. The decision on who will be chosen for the crew will depend on NASA's needs and priorities for the mission.
