NASA has announced that Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano will become the first European to take part in an Artemis mission, serving as pilot for the upcoming Artemis 3 flight.Parmitano, representing the European Space Agency (ESA), will join a four-member crew that also includes three NASA astronauts:Andre Douglas, a first-time space flyerFrank Rubio, a record-setting astronautRandy Bresnik, a veteran test pilotThe mission is currently targeted for launch as early as late 2027.Preparing for future Moon landingNASA said Artemis 3 will focus on testing critical systems needed for future lunar exploration, including docking between the Orion spacecraft and a lunar lander.The mission is designed to reduce risks ahead of a planned crewed Moon landing, which NASA aims to achieve as soon as 2028.A milestone for Europe Parmitano’s selection marks a significant milestone for the European Space Agency, strengthening its role in NASA’s long-term Artemis programme and international lunar exploration efforts.