NASA Names 4-Man Artemis III Crew After First Woman Reached the Moon

3 articles · Updated · Fortune · Jun 22

NASA has selected an all-male, four-astronaut crew for Artemis III, a move that follows Christina Koch’s history-making lunar flight on Artemis II just two months earlier.
About 40% of NASA’s astronaut corps are women, making the Artemis III lineup a sharp reversal after Koch became the first woman to travel to the Moon in April.
The commentary frames the decision as part of a broader "leadership labyrinth" in which women face systemic barriers even after visible breakthroughs.
Drawing on research into 25 women astronauts, the author argues that women’s leadership is built through long-term support from parents, teachers, friends, managers and partners rather than workplace praise alone.
The broader implication is that symbolic firsts do not guarantee sustained representation, and NASA’s crew choice underscores how quickly progress can stall.