Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano receives national flag from PM Meloni for Artemis III mission

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met ESA astronaut Colonel Luca Parmitano at Rome’s Palazzo Chigi, congratulating him on his selection by NASA as pilot of the Artemis III lunar return mission slated for launch in 2027. During the ceremony Meloni presented Parmitano with an official chromatic replica of the Italian Tricolour, which will travel aboard the Orion capsule as a symbol of Italy’s engineering and national pride. The meeting was followed by discussions with Minister of Enterprise and Made‑in‑Italy Adolfo Urso, emphasizing Italy’s growing role in the space sector and its industrial capabilities.

Parmitano’s appointment marks the first time an Italian will serve as pilot on a NASA-led lunar mission, highlighting the country’s participation in international space exploration programs.