Will the first European on the Moon be Italian?

Under Artemis, the United States has pledged to return humans to the Moon, and Europe is part of that effort. Through its contributions to the Orion spacecraft and the lunar Gateway space station, the continent has committed to supporting humanity’s return to the lunar surface. However, those contributions still haven’t guaranteed a place for a European astronaut on a landing mission.

Speaking at the 15th European Space Conference in January 2023, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher revealed that the agency would receive three spots for European astronauts aboard missions to the Moon in trade for its contributions to Artemis. The two already confirmed aboard Artemis 4 and Artemis 5, however, will go to the lunar Gateway space station and not the lunar surface. Aschbacher, however, did add that he was working to ensure the third flight opportunity would put European boots on the lunar surface.

"I keep insisting [to then NASA Administrator Bill Nelson] that European boots should be seen…