In a landmark moment for international space cooperation, veteran Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano has been named lead pilot of NASA’s Artemis III mission, scheduled for launch in 2027. The mission, which will see the crew test two next-generation lunar modules in cislunar space near Earth, marks one of the most high-profile roles for a European astronaut in NASA’s modern lunar exploration program.
Parmitano, who already has his eye on bringing a signature touch of Italian culture to the mission, says iconic Italian cuisine is almost guaranteed a spot on the crew’s menu. During a recent interview with Agence France-Presse (AFP), he recalled that Artemis II’s April 2025 flight already included a jar of the popular Italian spread Nutella, which went viral when it was spotted floating through the Orion capsule during a live space broadcast. “I do expect something Italian to show up on the menu, and I don’t even have to bring it up because Italian food is a treasure of UNESCO,” Parmitano said Tuesday. “Everybody wants some Italian food.”
Beyond his contribution to the mission’s culinary lineup, Parmitano brings decades of elite space experience to the Artemis III crew. A former colonel in the Italian Air Force, he was first selected as an astronaut by the European Space Agency (ESA) in 2009 and has already completed two long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station (ISS). During his ISS tenure, he carried out multiple complex spacewalks, including one that tested his courage and training after a critical suit failure left his helmet filling with water, a near-fatal emergency he navigated successfully to return safely to the station.
As lead pilot, Parmitano will share mission responsibilities with NASA commander Randy Bresnik, a fellow test pilot. “We are both test pilots, and the spacecraft needs a crew of 2 to fly it, so we share the responsibilities,” Parmitano explained. The 49-year-old father of two said he was both shocked and deeply honored by his appointment. “It was unexpected because I didn’t know that I was in the run for that position,” he said. “I am also very humbled by the task in front of us. It’s a very complex mission.”
Parmitano regularly wears a uniform embroidered with both the Italian flag and the ESA mission patch, framing the partnership between Italy, ESA and NASA as a model of global collaboration. “When NASA chooses a European astronaut to be a pilot, it is sending a strong message that our leadership is understood, that our cooperation is valued, and that our technical expertise – both in our constructions, because Europe builds part of the spacecraft, but also our personnel – is solid,” he said.
The Artemis III crew boasts a diverse makeup of backgrounds and experience levels. Rounding out the four-person team are Andre Douglas, an African American NASA astronaut who will make his first spaceflight on the mission, and Frank Rubio, a US astronaut of Salvadoran descent who already has extensive ISS experience. Parmitano noted he has known commander Bresnik for his entire career, and said the full team bonded quickly after their assignment was announced. He added that the mix of ages, nationalities and professional backgrounds “just enriches the crew in general,” creating a dynamic that will serve the ambitious mission well.