Italian astronaut to be first European on NASA moon mission; Germany's hopes shift

Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano has been named as the first European to join a NASA moon mission, part of the upcoming Artemis 3 crew. The announcement places Parmitano, a seasoned ESA astronaut, in a historic role, though the mission's objective has shifted from a direct lunar landing to testing technology in Earth orbit.

Jared Isaacman, head of the US space agency NASA, revealed the crew, which includes Parmitano alongside Americans Andre Douglas, Frank Rubio, and Randy Bresnik. This nomination comes after earlier expectations from the European Space Agency (ESA) that a German astronaut would be the first European on a lunar mission. However, NASA's revised Artemis program now designates Artemis 3 for orbital testing of lunar landing systems, including SpaceX's lander.

Parmitano, 49, brings extensive experience from two previous missions to the International Space Station (ISS). His selection highlights Italy's significant contributions to space exploration. The Artemis program overall aims for a sustained human presence on the Moon, with further missions, Artemis 4 and 5, planned for lunar landings as early as 2028.

With Parmitano's inclusion in Artemis 3, the possibility of German astronauts participating in future lunar landing missions, such as Artemis 4 or 5, is considered more likely. German astronauts Alexander Gerst and Matthias Maurer have expressed strong interest in such opportunities. However, the current plans for Artemis 4 and 5 suggest that only two of the four crew members will land on the Moon, likely to be American astronauts.

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I feel honored by the role given to me.