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Luca Parmitano sarà il pilota di Artemis III, la missione che riapre la strada verso la Luna: «Onorato ed emozionato»
La missione spaziale testerà nel 2027 le operazioni di attracco in orbita terrestre, in vista dell'allunaggio previsto con Artemis 4. L'astronauta dell'Agenzia Spaziale Europea uno dei quattro dell'equipaggio, con il comandante Randy Bresnik e gli specialisti Frank Rubio e Andre Douglas
Now the pilot for the Artemis III mission, Luca Parmitano became well known for a mishap during a 2013 spacewalk. After beginning a planned six-hour spacewalk, Mr. Parmitano’s helmet started filling with water because of an issue with his spacesuit’s liquid-based cooling system.
Mission Control quickly terminated the spacewalk, and despite the water in his helmet blurring his vision, Mr. Parmitano was able to safely return to the International Space Station.
After referencing the ill-fated spacewalk, Joseph Achbacher said during the crew announcement that Mr. Parmitano will bring “Italian ease” to the high-stakes Artemis III mission.
Mr. Parmitano will be the European Space Agency’s first representative on board an Artemis program mission. He began his career as a test pilot and then colonel with the Italian Air Force, and has since spent 367 days in space so far, including during his most recent mission: serving as the first Italian commander of the International Space Station in 2019-20.
“I’m very humbled by the task in front of us, but first and foremost I’m grateful,” Mr. Parmitano said.