On June 9, 2026, NASA named Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano as pilot of Artemis 3, making him the first European ever assigned to an Artemis crew — and within hours ESA's director general framed the seat not as a courtesy but as the opening move in a ne

On June 9, 2026, NASA named Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano as pilot of Artemis 3, making him the first European ever assigned to an Artemis crew — and within hours ESA's director general framed the seat not as a courtesy but as the opening move in a ne Space Daily NASA Leader Pushes Back on Complaints That No Women Will Be on the Next Artemis Mission The New York Times NASA Marches Toward Artemis III Mission in 2027, Names Crew Members NASA (.gov) Revised Artemis lunar lander plans take shape SpaceNews NASA chief defends selection of all-male Artemis 3 crew Spaceflight Now