Nasa to reveal Artemis-III astronauts tonight: When and how to watch

NASA will reveal the four astronauts chosen for the Artemis-III mission during a live event on Tuesday, June 9, at 9 pm IST, broadcast from the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The announcement follows the successful Artemis-II mission earlier this year, where four astronauts completed a crewed trip beyond low Earth orbit for the first time since 1972. Originally intended as a lunar landing mission, Artemis-III has been adjusted to focus on testing critical procedures in low Earth orbit. The astronauts will launch aboard NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, practicing docking with commercial lunar landers developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin. These tests aim to refine safety protocols for future Moon landings, with actual surface missions planned for Artemis-IV in 2028. The Artemis program seeks to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, including landing the first woman and first person of color. The mission also serves as a stepping stone for future Mars exploration. NASA has not disclosed the astronauts’ names in advance, but the crew is expected to include experienced professionals to validate mission-critical technologies. The event will be streamed for free on NASA’s official YouTube channel and NASA+ streaming service, with no subscription required for the YouTube broadcast. Viewers in India can tune in at 8:30 pm IST, while updates will also be available through NASA’s official channels and science news platforms.