NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman confirmed Saturday that the announcement of the Artemis III mission crew is on the horizon, delivering the news at Ellington Field at Johnson Space Center in Houston as the Artemis II astronauts reunited with their families following a historic 10-day journey around the Moon.

“The next crew will begin preparing to play their part as we return to the lunar surface, we build the base and we never give up the moon again,” Isaacman said. He noted that assembly of the Artemis III vehicle and the crew announcement will occur soon, though he did not provide a specific timeline.

Isaacman framed the moment as a turning point — not just for NASA, but for human history. He called the Artemis II mission “the greatest adventure in human history” and said it will always be remembered as the moment when the crew, and people around the world, saw the Moon again and “where childhood dreams became missions.”

What Will Artemis III Do?

Artemis III, currently targeted for 2027, will take the next step toward returning humans to the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. The mission will launch crew aboard the Orion spacecraft on top of NASA’s SLS rocket and test rendezvous and docking capabilities between Orion and commercial spacecraft — the critical step needed to actually land astronauts on the Moon. NASA will announce specifics on the mission design and crew closer to launch.

Artemis II served as the foundation for all of that. The mission tested Orion’s life support, navigation, propulsion and communications systems in deep space with crew aboard for the first time — data that will now be analyzed and used to shape every decision made for Artemis III.

Vanessa Wyche, director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, said the Artemis II mission’s impact will extend far beyond the four astronauts who flew it.

“It will lead countless students to become the next scientists, engineers, inventors, mathematicians and astronauts who will dare to forge new frontiers in space and push the boundaries of what’s possible for the benefit of all,” Wyche said. “We often say that we stand on the shoulders of giants, and after seeing them return from this mission, I have to say their shoulders now seem even broader for the next generation to stand on.”

Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman echoed that sentiment with a direct message to the NASA astronauts gathered in the auditorium Saturday.

“It is time to go and be ready,” Wiseman said. “Because it takes courage. It takes determination. And you all are freaking going, and we are going to be standing there supporting you every single step of the way.”

This story was originally published by Men’s Journal on Apr 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.