Europe wants to be a strong partner of the US in the Moon race, ESA astronaut says

Europe seeks to solidify its role as a key partner in the U.S.-led effort to return humans to the Moon, according to Luca Parmitano, an Italian astronaut affiliated with the European Space Agency (ESA). Speaking during an interview with Euronews, Parmitano emphasized the importance of international collaboration in advancing space exploration, particularly in the context of NASA’s Artemis III mission, set to launch in 2027. Selected by NASA to participate in Artemis III, Parmitano will join three American astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft for a mission aimed at testing the feasibility of future lunar landings. The mission involves launching the Orion capsule into low-Earth orbit, where it will dock with two separate lunar landers developed by private companies, SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk, and Blue Origin, owned by Jeff Bezos. From there, the crew will travel to the Moon’s surface. Parmitano described being chosen for the mission as a moment of profound personal significance. “The mission was not at all on my horizon,” he said. “I was speechless, which is quite unusual for me, and I was really grateful.” A veteran of two extended stays on the International Space Station, Parmitano holds the distinction of being the first Italian to conduct a spacewalk and the first European to participate in the Artemis program. NASA officially announced the Artemis III crew on June 9 at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. During the event, Parmitano expressed pride in representing both Italy and the ESA, referring to Italy as his “launch pad” and the ESA as his “launch tower.” His remarks highlighted the role of national institutions in supporting space endeavors and the broader European commitment to space exploration. The Artemis III mission presents numerous technical challenges, according to Parmitano. The operation requires multiple launches within a short timeframe using different spacecraft systems. Success depends on the timely execution of these launches, the performance of the Orion spacecraft, and the precision of orbital maneuvers. The living conditions aboard Orion are also more demanding than those in low-Earth orbit, with a habitable volume of approximately 8 to 9 cubic meters. To prepare for the complexities of the mission, Parmitano and his fellow astronauts, Randy Bresnik, Frank Rubio, and Andre Douglas, are undergoing rigorous training. Their regimen includes mastering essential skills, simulating mission scenarios, and preparing for potential malfunctions. “Our training is very complex and wonderfully different and varied,” Parmitano noted, underscoring the unique nature of their preparation. While geopolitical tensions have marked recent interactions between the European Union and the United States, Parmitano pointed out that cooperation in space remains robust. “We don’t look at what’s happening at the political level; we are operators,” he said. The Artemis III mission reflects a shared objective among nations to advance humanity’s presence beyond Earth, with the ESA playing a pivotal role in the overall architecture of the Artemis program. The ESA contributed significantly to the Artemis program through the development of the European Service Module, which provides critical resources, including power, thermal regulation, and life support, to the Orion spacecraft. However, recent decisions by NASA to halt progress on the Lunar Gateway, a planned orbital outpost around the Moon, have affected the scope of ESA’s involvement in the program. As preparations for Artemis III continue, the focus remains on ensuring the technical readiness of all components involved. The mission represents a major milestone in the global effort to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and lays the groundwork for future exploration of Mars and beyond.