European astronaut to join lunar mission for first time ahead of planned Moon landing in two years

A European astronaut is set to join Nasa's lunar mission for the first time ahead of a planned Moon landing in 2028.

Col Luca Parmitano has made history as the inaugural European Space Agency astronaut chosen for Nasa's Artemis programme.

The 49-year-old Italian, who previously served as a test pilot in his country's air force, will fly alongside three American astronauts on the Artemis III mission to evaluate lunar landing vehicles.

His crewmates include Nasa's Randy Bresnik as commander, with Andre Douglas and Frank Rubio serving as mission specialists.

Following the announcement, Col Parmitano said: "I am honoured by the role that I have been given. I am very humbled by the task in front of us. I am very grateful."

Col Parmitano's selection comes despite a terrifying brush with death during his first spacewalk in 2013, when he became the first Italian to conduct an extravehicular activity from the International Space Station.

The assignment was abruptly terminated when coolant from his suit's system began leaking into his helmet, flooding his face with water.

"I couldn't breathe through my nose," he recalled, likening the sensation to being a "goldfish inside a fish bowl".

With liquid spreading across his nostrils and his vision obscured, the astronaut was forced to navigate back to the airlock using only his safety tether as a guide.

He returned to the ISS in 2018, where he became the first Italian to command the orbital outpost, working alongside Christina Koch, who recently flew on the Artemis II mission.

Josef Aschbacher, ESA's director general, praised the astronaut's composure during the 2013 emergency.

Mr Aschbacher said: "His helmet began to fill with water, a dangerous situation by any standard, and he handled it with calm and clarity and brought himself back safely.

"I am sure he brings a touch of Italian ease to the cockpit. We could not have wished for a better pilot."

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Nasa revealed fresh details of the Artemis III mission on Tuesday, outlining an intricate choreography involving both commercial space companies.

Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin will launch its Blue Moon lander first, which will wait in orbit for the crew's arrival aboard the Orion spacecraft, departing from Kennedy Space Centre.

After docking with Blue Moon for two days of testing, Orion will separate and rendezvous with Elon Musk's SpaceX Starship for an additional day of demonstrations.

The entire mission is expected to span approximately a fortnight, concluding with a Pacific Ocean splashdown.

Both lunar landers face significant obstacles; however, neither launch system is currently operational following a series of setbacks.

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded last week, just seven days after SpaceX's booster rocket plunged into the sea.

The Federal Aviation Administration has grounded SpaceX's Starship after its super-heavy booster veered off course and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, triggering an investigation.

Nasa administrator Jared Isaacman acknowledged the difficulties in a staff email, writing: "I am sure it is not lost on anyone how this situation could potentially impact our Artemis and Moon base ambitions."

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