A Kentucky-born astronaut will help lead NASA’s next major step towards returning humans to the Moon. Randy Bresnik, 58, was selected as commander of the Artemis III mission. He was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Artemis III Mission Details

Bresnik, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel and veteran astronaut, will lead a four-person crew on a mission that will undergo a series of tests in Earth orbit in 2027. This mission is a big test that will involve several rocket launches and careful coordination. NASA wants to ensure all systems work together smoothly before astronauts use them for future lunar missions.

The flight is expected to last about two weeks and will mark Bresnik’s third trip to space. During his NASA career, he has flown on the space shuttle Atlantis, commanded the International Space Station, completed five spacewalks, and logged more than 3,600 hours in spacecraft. NASA says Artemis III will play a key role in preparing astronauts for future missions to the Moon and eventually to Mars.

Original reporting: WLKY Louisville — read the source article.