What Happened
European Space Agency Seeks Lunar Presence After Artemis III
The European Space Agency (ESA) is seeking to establish a European presence on the Moon following the Artemis III mission, with Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano set to pilot the mission. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher has expressed his goal of sending a European astronaut to the lunar surface, with constructive meetings with NASA currently underway. The agency is looking to define its role in future lunar missions, with an inter-ministerial meeting planned to discuss the path forward for space exploration. This development was first reported by Aviation Week.