ESA astronaut outlines European role in Artemis III

Key points

• Italian ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano is scheduled to join three NASA astronauts on the Artemis III mission, planned for launch in 2027.
• Artemis III is designed to send its crew aboard Orion to low-Earth orbit, where they will dock with lunar landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin.
• Mission success will depend on several launches, spacecraft readiness and precise orbital manoeuvres, Parmitano said.
• The crew is undergoing intensive training that includes simulations, skills practice and preparations for possible equipment failures.
• The ESA supplied Orion’s European Service Module, while NASA’s pause on Lunar Gateway work changed Europe’s contribution to the programme.