German astronaut targeted for upcoming Artemis lunar mission

The European Space Agency (ESA) is preparing for a German astronaut to fly to the Moon on one of the Artemis program's Artemis 4 or Artemis 5 missions slated for 2028. The agency is weighing veteran astronauts Matthias Maurer and Alexander Gerst, with ESA chief Josef Aschbacher said to make the final decision after further coordination with NASA. The selected astronaut would join the United States‑led effort to land humans on the lunar surface.

Space‑flight expert Ludwig Moeller notes that NASA’s recent announcement of Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano for Artemis 3 in 2027 does not hinder a German from becoming the first European on a lunar landing. Artemis 3 will conduct a near‑Earth test of Orion’s docking with lunar lander systems and will not involve a Moon landing. ESA had previously indicated that German, French and Italian astronauts would be the first Europeans to fly on lunar missions, with Germany next in line, and negotiations on the slots are ongoing. "The selection of Luca Parmitano … does not conflict with the goal of a German astronaut as the first European on the Moon," Moeller said.