Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano named pilot for NASA Artemis III mission
NASA announced the crew for the Artemis III mission, scheduled for launch in 2027. The four‑person crew includes Italian ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano as the mission pilot, making him the first European astronaut to fly on a NASA Artemis flight. The other members are U.S. astronauts Randy Bresnik (commander), Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio (mission specialists).
Artemis III will not land on the Moon; instead it will remain in low‑Earth orbit to test the Orion capsule’s docking with commercial lunar‑lander prototypes built by SpaceX and Blue Origin. The mission is a key step in NASA’s broader Artemis program intended to return humans to the lunar surface and eventually to Mars.
The selection marks a change from earlier plans that a German astronaut would be the first European on an Artemis mission. Parmitano expressed gratitude, saying he feels “honoured” and “thankful” for the role, while ESA chief Josef Aschbacher praised his professionalism. The crew’s announcement underscores growing European involvement in the U.S. lunar program.