NASA has announced the crew for its highly anticipated Artemis III mission, and one Latino astronaut will be helping lead humanity’s next giant leap into deep space.

Frank Rubio, a NASA astronaut and U.S. Army physician with Salvadoran roots, has been selected as part of the four-person crew that will fly on Artemis III, one of NASA’s most important missions since the Apollo era.

Rubio will join Commander Randy Bresnik, mission specialist Andre Douglas, and Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency. The mission is scheduled for 2027 and will play a critical role in preparing for future lunar landings and eventual human missions to Mars.

Born in Los Angeles and raised in a family of Salvadoran heritage, Rubio has already made history during his NASA career. Before becoming an astronaut, he served as both a physician and helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army.

Artemis III is part of NASA’s ambitious Artemis program, which aims to establish a long-term human presence on and around the Moon while developing the technologies needed to send astronauts deeper into space. The mission will test spacecraft systems, docking procedures, life-support technologies, and other critical components needed for future exploration.

NASA ultimately hopes to return astronauts to the Moon’s South Pole, a region believed to contain water ice and resources that could help support long-term lunar operations.

For many across Latin America and the Latino community in North America, Rubio’s selection is another powerful reminder that representation in science, technology, engineering, and space exploration continues to grow. As NASA enters a new era of discovery, Frank Rubio is helping ensure Latinos have a place in shaping the future beyond Earth.