NASA addresses criticism over all-male crew selected for Artemis III test mission

SpaceNASA addresses criticism over all-male crew selected for Artemis III test missionAfter NASA announced the astronauts selected for the flight, the lack of women sparked “reactions ranging from disappointment to outrage,” Administrator Jared Isaacman said.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00The Artemis III crew — NASA astronaut Andre Douglas, European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano, and NASA astronauts Randy Bresnik and Frank Rubio — on Tuesday.Robert Markowitz / NASAShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 10, 2026, 4:56 PM EDTBy Denise ChowWhen NASA’s Artemis III mission launches next year, the crew won’t include any women — a revelation that sparked controversy after the agency on Tuesday announced the four astronauts selected for the flight.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.“Not a single woman flying on Artemis III is an insane choice,” Alexandra Doten, a space influencer who goes by Astro Alexandra, posted on X on Tuesday.NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman attempted to address these criticisms head-on Wednesday.“I have seen reactions ranging from disappointment to outrage,” he said in a statement.Isaacman said that some astronauts may not have been selected for the Artemis III flight because they are already on tap for expeditions to the International Space Station or because their training and skill sets make them more suitable for future Artemis missions, during which astronauts are expected to land on the moon.“The Astronaut Office assigns the crew that gives the mission the best chance of meeting its objectives, taking into account many factors, including the background and expertise of the astronauts, such as test pilot experience, development work on specific programs, and availability,” he said.Add NBC News to GoogleTom Costello sits down with Jared Isaacman and the crew of Artemis III to discuss the next mission10:43The crew members unveiled Tuesday are NASA astronauts Ran...