Voor het eerst Europese astronaut mee op Artemis-missie van NASA – NOS

NASA has named the four-person crew for the Artemis III mission, including Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano. According to reports from NOS and VRTN on June 9, 2026, Parmitano’s inclusion marks the first time a European astronaut will participate in the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface for the first time in 50 years.

The announcement identifies Parmitano as a key member of the four-astronaut team assigned to the mission. This selection represents a formal expansion of the lunar program’s international partnerships, moving beyond the primary NASA framework to include the European Space Agency (ESA).

Who is the first European astronaut on Artemis III?

Luca Parmitano, an experienced astronaut from Italy, is the first European selected to fly on an Artemis mission. As reported by VRTN on June 9, 2026, his presence on the crew signifies a milestone in the collaboration between NASA and ESA.

Parmitano’s selection doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s the result of a long-term agreement where ESA provides critical hardware for the Orion spacecraft. Specifically, the European Service Module (ESM) serves as the spacecraft’s powerhouse, providing propulsion, electrical power, and life support systems including water and oxygen.

By providing the ESM, ESA secured a commitment from NASA to fly European astronauts to the moon. Parmitano’s assignment to Artemis III fulfills a primary component of this institutional exchange.

What are the goals of the Artemis III mission?

The primary objective of Artemis III is to land humans on the moon for the first time since the Apollo program ended in December 1972. According to AD.nl, the mission is designed to clear the way for a sustained human presence on the lunar surface.

The mission’s technical goals include:

• Landing astronauts near the lunar south pole, a region believed to contain water ice.
• Collecting lunar samples for return to Earth.
• Testing new surface habitation technologies and equipment.
• Conducting scientific experiments to understand the moon’s geological history.

This mission differs from Artemis II, which was a crewed flyby mission. Artemis III requires a complex landing sequence using a Human Landing System (HLS) to transport the crew from the Orion spacecraft to the lunar surface and back.

How does Artemis III differ from the Apollo missions?

While Apollo focused on the “space race” and national prestige, Artemis is built on a multilateral framework. The inclusion of Luca Parmitano highlights a shift toward international cooperation that wasn’t present during the 1960s and 70s.

NASA is utilizing a mix of government-led development and private sector contracts for the HLS, whereas Apollo relied almost entirely on government-managed contractors. The target landing site also differs; Apollo missions landed near the lunar equator, but Artemis III targets the south pole to access volatile resources like ice.

The crew size and composition also reflect this new era. De Telegraaf reports a four-person crew for this mission, reflecting a broader operational scope than the three-person crews typical of the Apollo lunar landings.

What happens next for the Artemis crew?

The four astronauts will now enter an intensive training phase. This includes simulations for lunar descent and ascent, as well as specialized training for the European Service Module’s systems.

The mission’s success depends on the continued integration of the Orion spacecraft and the landing system. According to NASA’s broader program roadmap, Artemis III serves as the foundation for the later establishment of the Lunar Gateway, a small space station that will orbit the moon and act as a communication hub and short-term habitation module.

The mission is scheduled to occur after the successful completion of all preceding Artemis flight tests and safety certifications. If the mission meets its objectives, it will mark the first time in over five decades that humans have walked on the lunar surface.