European astronaut selected for first time on NASA lunar mission
An Italian astronaut will fly on the Artemis III mission scheduled for 2028. The crew will test lunar landing vehicles during a two-week flight that includes work with two commercial landers.
GB NewsA European Space Agency astronaut will join a NASA lunar mission for the first time, with the flight planned ahead of a Moon landing in 2028. Col Luca Parmitano, 49, was chosen as the first ESA astronaut assigned to the Artemis programme. He will serve alongside three NASA astronauts on the Artemis III mission to evaluate lunar landing vehicles.
His crewmates include NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik as commander, with Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio serving as mission specialists. Parmitano previously served as a test pilot in the Italian air force. Parmitano flew to the International Space Station in 2013 and 2018.
During his first spacewalk, coolant leaked into his helmet and the activity was ended early. He later became the first Italian to command the station.
NASA outlined the mission plan on Tuesday.
Blue Origin's Blue Moon lander will launch first and wait in orbit. The Orion spacecraft will dock with it for two days of tests before separating to meet SpaceX's Starship for additional demonstrations. The full mission is expected to last about two weeks and end with a Pacific Ocean splashdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration grounded SpaceX's Starship after its booster landed in the Gulf of Mexico. Blue Origin's New Glenn exploded during a test flight last week. >"I am honoured by the role that I have been given. I am very humbled by the task in front of us.
