Italian astronaut named lead pilot for NASA's Artemis III lunar mission

NASA has selected Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano as lead pilot for the Artemis III test flight, according to Deutsche Welle. The mission, scheduled to launch in 2027, will test technology for a future moon landing and marks the first time a European astronaut has been named to a lead position in NASA's crewed lunar programme.

Parmitano's selection signals a deepening of transatlantic space cooperation at a moment when European nations are reassessing their role in American-led initiatives. The appointment comes as the European Space Agency and NASA have expanded joint training and mission protocols, particularly following heightened geopolitical tensions that have strained broader EU-US relations in recent months.