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Europe validates Ariane 6 commercial launch: ESA eyes eight annual missions by 2028
European astronaut Luca Parmitano pilots NASAs Artemis III Moon mission
NASA on Tuesday named European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Luca Parmitano as pilot of the Artemis III mission, marking the first time a European will join a crewed lunar programme flight. The announcement, made at a press conference at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, confirms Parmitano will fly aboard Orion when it lifts off in 2027 for a two-week Earth-orbit test mission. ESA is also providing its third European Service Module, the powerhouse that supplies propulsion, power and life support to the spacecraft .
The four-person Artemis III crew will rehearse rendezvous and docking operations with lunar landers supplied by SpaceX and Blue Origin, a critical step ahead of the planned 2028 crewed lunar landing. Speaking shortly after the announcement, Parmitano called the assignment “an honour” and underscored the mission’s role in preparing for humanity’s return to the Moon .
Parmitano, a 49-year-old Italian Air Force colonel, brings two prior spaceflight experiences to the role. He served as Expedition 36/37 flight engineer aboard the International Space Station in 2013 and commanded Expedition 61 in 2019, completing six complex spacewalks. His Artemis III seat reflects Europe’s growing contribution to NASA’s Moon-to-Mars programme, which includes ESA’s commitment to provide three service modules for the Orion fleet .
German media noted the absence of German astronauts Alexander Gerst or Matthias Maurer from the Artemis III roster, a point highlighted by Handelsblatt and Tagesspiegel as a surprise given Europe’s substantial investment in the programme .
Artemis III remains scheduled for 2027 despite the recent explosion of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket during ground tests. NASA officials expressed confidence that the commercial lander providers will meet the programme’s timelines, emphasising that the Earth-orbit rehearsal is designed to validate systems before committing to lunar descent .
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