NASA Defends 4-Man Artemis III Crew as Isaacman Rejects DEI Criticism
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 12
NASA Defends 4-Man Artemis III Crew as Isaacman Rejects DEI Criticism
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 12
Summary
Jared Isaacman said the four-man Artemis III crew was chosen through NASA’s standard process, not as a response to Trump administration pressure against diversity, equity and inclusion.
At Johnson Space Center and later in a New York Times interview, the NASA administrator said he did not pick the crew and that selections were based on expertise, background and availability to maximize mission success.
The criticism centered on Artemis III’s lack of women, even though NASA’s latest astronaut class included 6 women out of 10 candidates — the first time women outnumbered men.
Isaacman also pointed to some diversity within the crew itself: Andre Douglas is Black and Frank Rubio is Latino, as NASA tries to keep its moon-return program focused on mission readiness.