Italian food is a treasure of UNESCO. Everybody wants some.
In 2027, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano will co-pilot NASA's Artemis III mission — a lunar module test flight that carries within it the quiet weight of international trust. His selection by NASA signals not merely a technical assignment but a philosophical statement: that the next chapter of human exploration beyond Earth is no longer the story of one nation alone. A man who once survived near-suffocation in the silence of space now prepares to carry the flags of Italy, Europe, and a broader human coalition toward the Moon.
- Artemis III must test two lunar modules near the Moon in 2027 — a mission of extraordinary complexity that leaves no margin for error.
- Parmitano's past brush with death during a flooded spacewalk haunts the mission's backdrop, reminding the world that space remains an unforgiving environment.
- NASA's choice of a European co-pilot disrupts the old image of American-only space dominance, sparking questions about how power and credit are shared in international partnerships.
- A deliberately diverse crew — African American, Salvadoran-descent, Italian, American — is being assembled not as symbolism but as a functional expression of global cooperation.
- The mission is currently in preparation at Johnson Space Center, with crew bonding underway and even the menu becoming a quiet cultural negotiation.
Luca Parmitano, a 49-year-old Italian astronaut and former Air Force colonel, has been assigned to co-pilot NASA's Artemis III mission in 2027 — a flight designed to test two lunar modules near the Moon before any actual landing attempt. He will share the cockpit with commander Randy Bresnik, and together they will manage one of the most intricate spacecraft operations ever conceived.
Parmitano's credentials are hard-won. A two-time veteran of the International Space Station, he once survived a terrifying malfunction when his spacesuit's cooling system failed during a spacewalk, flooding his helmet with water. That moment tested not just his equipment but his capacity for calm in the face of mortal danger.
His selection carries meaning beyond technical skill. Europe contributes not only personnel but critical hardware to the Artemis program, and Parmitano sees NASA's choice of a European pilot as a genuine affirmation of that partnership. "When NASA chooses a European astronaut to be a pilot, it is sending a strong message that our leadership is understood," he said at Johnson Space Center, wearing both the Italian flag and the ESA patch on his uniform.
The crew around him reflects a wider world: Andre Douglas, an African American astronaut on his first spaceflight, and Frank Rubio, of Salvadoran descent, join Bresnik and Parmitano in a group that spans nationalities, generations, and histories. Parmitano views this not as a formality but as a genuine source of strength.
Even the question of food has become a small cultural statement. After Texas brisket and tortillas flew aboard Artemis II, Parmitano has made clear he expects something Italian on the Artemis III menu — a lighthearted remark that points to something deeper: the people who travel to space carry their cultures with them, and those cultures are part of what makes the mission worth taking.
Luca Parmitano, an Italian astronaut who has spent years orbiting Earth and nearly died when his spacesuit flooded during a spacewalk, will pilot humanity's next major test of lunar exploration in 2027. NASA has assigned the 49-year-old former Air Force colonel to co-pilot Artemis III, a mission designed to fly near the Moon and test two lunar modules before humans attempt an actual landing. He will share the cockpit with commander Randy Bresnik, another test pilot, and together they will manage one of the most complex spacecraft operations ever attempted.
Parmitano's selection carries weight beyond his technical credentials. When NASA taps a European astronaut for such a prominent role, it sends a deliberate signal about the value of international partnership. The European Space Agency selected him as an astronaut in 2009, and he has since completed two full missions aboard the International Space Station, where he performed intricate spacewalks and survived a harrowing moment when his helmet's cooling system failed and water began pooling around his head. That near-fatal incident tested not just his equipment but his composure under conditions where panic could have been fatal.
The mission itself reflects a broader shift in how space exploration is organized. Europe doesn't just contribute personnel—it builds critical components of the Artemis spacecraft. Parmitano understands this arrangement as a statement of mutual respect. "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 is solid," he said in an interview at Johnson Space Center. He wears both the Italian flag and the ESA patch on his uniform, symbols of a partnership that has become essential to American space ambitions.
The crew assembled for Artemis III reflects a deliberate diversity of background and experience. Alongside Parmitano and Bresnik will be Andre Douglas, an African American astronaut on his first spaceflight, and Frank Rubio, a U.S. astronaut of Salvadoran descent. Parmitano has known Bresnik throughout his career, but bonded quickly with Douglas once their assignment was confirmed. He views the mix of ages, nationalities, and professional histories not as a checkbox but as genuine enrichment. "It just enriches the crew in general," he said.
There is also the matter of what will be eaten. During Artemis II, which launched in April, the crew enjoyed Texas brisket and tortillas aboard the Orion spacecraft. A jar of Nutella floated past during a live broadcast—a small reminder that even in space, comfort food matters. Parmitano has already made clear his expectations for Artemis III. "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," he told reporters. "Everybody wants some Italian food." It is a lighthearted comment, but it also signals something deeper: that the people who venture into space carry their cultures with them, and that those cultures are part of what makes the mission human.
Parmitano describes himself as humbled by the responsibility ahead. At 49, he is a father of two daughters and a veteran of the most demanding training any human can undergo. He knows the risks. He knows the complexity. Yet he also knows that this mission—this test of lunar modules, this rehearsal for a return to the Moon—matters not just for America but for the entire human enterprise of space exploration. The crew that will fly it is no longer exclusively American. It is European, African American, Salvadoran-descended, Italian. It is, in other words, a reflection of the world that sent it.
Notable Quotes
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 is solid.— Luca Parmitano
I feel honored that I was chosen for this role. It was unexpected because I didn't know that it was in the run for that position.— Luca Parmitano
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why does it matter that an Italian pilot the Artemis mission rather than another American?
Because NASA is saying publicly that European expertise and leadership are essential, not supplementary. Europe builds parts of the spacecraft. When you put a European in the pilot seat, you're not checking a box—you're saying this partnership is real.
Parmitano nearly died in space once. Does that change how he approaches a mission like this?
It probably does. You don't survive having your helmet fill with water and come away unchanged. You understand viscerally what can go wrong. That's not fear—that's knowledge.
The crew is deliberately diverse. Is that just optics, or does it actually change how a mission works?
Parmitano himself says it enriches the crew. Different backgrounds mean different problem-solving approaches, different ways of seeing risk and opportunity. In a spacecraft, that matters.
He's joking about Italian food on the menu. Is that trivial?
Not at all. It's a way of saying that the people in space are still human. They carry their cultures with them. It's a small thing that reminds you this isn't just engineering—it's people.
What does Artemis III actually do?
It tests the lunar modules near Earth before anyone lands on the Moon. It's a dress rehearsal. If something goes wrong, you're close enough to get home. Parmitano and Bresnik will be the ones managing that test.