NASA appoints first European astronaut for Artemis III mission

NASA has appointed Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano as the lead pilot for the Artemis III mission, marking the first time a European astronaut will participate in the US space agency’s human spaceflight campaign. The announcement, made by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman on Tuesday, confirms a four-member crew that will conduct critical tests in Earth’s orbit in 2027.

The mission profile represents a strategic adjustment from earlier plans. Rather than attempting a lunar landing, the Artemis III crew will orbit the Earth to practice docking the Orion capsule with two lunar landers. These tests are designed to evaluate the technology required for the subsequent Artemis IV mission, which is scheduled for 2028 and will serve as the first crewed mission to the lunar South Pole.

Parmitano will serve alongside US astronauts Randy Bresnik, who has been designated as the mission commander, and mission specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio. NASA astronaut Bob Hines has been named as the backup crew member to stand by in case of an emergency. The selection follows the recent success of the Artemis II mission, which occurred two months prior and saw humans orbit the Moon for the first time in over five decades, surpassing the distance record set by the 1970 Apollo 13 flight.

Parmitano, 49, was selected as an astronaut by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2009. A former test pilot who trained at the Italian Air Force Academy, he has completed two missions on the International Space Station. His career includes a notable near-fatal incident in 2013 during a spacewalk when his helmet began filling with water due to a cooling system failure. He is also credited with performing the first-ever DJ set from space.

The inclusion of a European astronaut in the Artemis programme is being viewed as a significant milestone for international space cooperation. Parmitano becomes the second non-US member involved in the campaign, following Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen on Artemis II. Italian Space Agency President Teodoro Valente stated that the selection confirms and enhances the role and capabilities of the European and Italian space systems in human exploration.

NASA Administrator Isaacman described the appointment as a bold step in humanity’s return to the Moon, building on the foundation laid by Artemis II. He noted that the Artemis III astronauts, alongside ESA and international partners, are ushering in a new era of exploration. Parmitano expressed honour at being part of the crew, citing the wealth of experience among his colleagues and his eagerness to contribute to the mission’s objectives.