Artemis III Crew Visits NASA Kennedy’s Vehicle Assembly Building

NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano toured High Bay 3 inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center on September 2, 2026. They examined the progress of solid rocket booster integration for the Space Launch System rocket. The visit marked the first time the entire Artemis III crew, including backup members, had gathered at Kennedy Space Center.

Artemis III crew members Andre Douglas, Frank Rubio, and Bob Hines joined Bresnik and Parmitano for the inspection. The team reviewed hardware and systems critical to the upcoming mission. The visit underscored preparations for the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17.

Artemis III will launch four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft into low Earth orbit. The mission aims to test systems required for future lunar landings, beginning with Artemis IV. The crew’s visit highlighted the collaborative effort between NASA and international partners.

The Artemis III mission represents the next phase of NASA’s lunar exploration program. The crew’s presence at Kennedy Space Center signals readiness for the mission’s launch phase. Integration activities in the Vehicle Assembly Building are a key milestone ahead of final preparations.