NASA Administrator Bill Nelson has defended the selection of an all-male crew for the upcoming Artemis III mission, asserting that the astronauts were chosen based strictly on their experience, skill sets, and availability.
Responding to public reactions that ranged from disappointment to outrage, Nelson stated on social media that he understood the sentiments but reiterated the selection criteria. He noted that he has personally flown on missions with 50 percent female crews and that women hold significant leadership positions within NASA.
“The last astronaut candidate class selected under this administration was majority female [six women and four men] because they were the best of the best,” Nelson wrote, referencing a previous class that included astronauts he had flown with. He also pointed out that nearly half of NASA’s center directors and mission directorate leadership are women.
Artemis III Mission Details
The Artemis III mission, revealed at an event at the Johnson Space Center, is designed to test rendezvous and docking procedures in low-Earth orbit with lunar landers being developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin. The mission will be commanded by veteran astronaut Randy Bresnik, who has logged 149 days in space. European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano will serve as pilot. Also assigned to the crew are Andre Douglas, who is new to spaceflight but possesses extensive engineering experience, and Frank Rubio, who holds the U.S. record for the longest single spaceflight at 371 days aboard the International Space Station.
In an interview with CNN, Bresnik stated the crew selection was “certainly not intentional,” emphasizing the diversity within NASA’s astronaut office. He explained that the crew assigned to the flight had the necessary skill sets and were available at the time of selection.
Future Missions and Astronaut Diversity
NASA currently has approximately 35 active astronauts, including 15 women, with six more currently in training. Previous Artemis missions have included women, such as Christina Koch, who was the first woman to fly on the Artemis II mission. Other female astronauts, Jessica Meir and Jessica Watkins, are currently involved in space station activities or training for upcoming flights.
Bresnik indicated that additional female astronauts are in training for future Artemis missions, suggesting that women will be part of subsequent lunar surface missions. He added that the astronaut office assigns crews to give missions the best chance of success, considering factors like test pilot experience, program development work, and astronaut availability.
Nelson concluded by stating that Bresnik and his crewmates are experienced and qualified, deserving of recognition for their assigned mission. He noted that future crews, including those with female astronauts, will also be celebrated when their time comes for their respective missions.
Steve Lopez is the Editorial Page Editor for News Raise. He covers Health. He has won more than a dozen national journalism awards for his reporting and column writing at seven newspapers and four news magazines.
