Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano named pilot for NASA Artemis III lunar mission

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano has been confirmed as the pilot for NASA’s Artemis III mission, scheduled for launch in 2027. The four‑person crew will include commander Randy Bresnik, mission specialists Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio, with Bob Hines as a reserve. The Orion capsule will lift off from the Kennedy Space Center on the Space Launch System rocket, and the flight’s primary objective is to test orbital rendezvous and docking with commercial lunar‑lander prototypes.

Artemis III marks the first time an astronaut from the European Space Agency will serve on a NASA Artemis mission, and ESA will also supply the European Service Module that provides power, propulsion and life‑support for Orion. Parmitano’s selection follows his two long‑duration stays on the International Space Station, his command of Expedition 61 – the first Italian to lead the ISS – and his historic 2013 EVA in which water entered his helmet.

Italian government officials welcomed the appointment, emphasizing Italy’s role in lunar‑surface module development and broader European participation in the Artemis program.