Luca Parmitano is the first Italian astronaut to command the International Space Station, a milestone he reached during Expedition 61. Born in 1976 in Paternò, he has transitioned from an experimental test pilot within the Italian Air Force to a prominent figure in the European Space Agency, logging extensive flight hours across numerous military and experimental aircraft types.
Military and Test Pilot Career
Parmitano graduated from the Italian Accademia Aeronautica in 2000 and completed training with the U.S. Air Force in 2001. Between 2001 and 2007, he flew the AMX aircraft with the 13th Squadron of the 32nd Wing in Amendola, serving as both Chief of Training Section and Commander of the 76th Flight. In 2007, he qualified as an Experimental Test Pilot at EPNER in Istres, France. He holds a master's degree in experimental flight test engineering from the Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace.
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Selected as an ESA astronaut in 2009, Parmitano served as a flight engineer for Expedition 36/37, launching in May 2013 on the Volare mission. During this time, he conducted his first spacewalk in July 2013. A second spacewalk in July 2013 was cut short due to a dangerous water leak in his helmet. He returned to the station for Expedition 60 and 61, launching in July 2019, where he notably performed as a DJ from orbit. His training has included underwater and subterranean exploration as an aquanaut for NEEMO 20 and as a cavenaut.
Academic and Professional Background
Before his aviation career, Parmitano completed a master's degree in political sciences at the University of Naples Federico II in 1999. His secondary education took place at the Liceo Scientifico Statale Galileo Galilei, supplemented by a 1993 exchange year at Mission Viejo High School in California. He currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Italian Air Force and has been appointed as the pilot for the Artemis III mission, scheduled for June 2026.
Fast facts
- Born: 1976, Paternò, Italy
- Education: University of Naples Federico II
- Military Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- ESA Selection: May 2009
- Expedition 61 Role: Commander
- Awards: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Artemis III Role: Pilot
- Asteroid named after him: 37627 Lucaparmitano
Questions readers ask
What was the Volare mission?
Volare was Parmitano's mission as a flight engineer for Expedition 36/37, during which he performed his first spacewalk.
Did he face safety issues during space travel?
Yes, during a July 2013 spacewalk, his helmet began filling with water due to a cooling system contamination, forcing an early termination of the EVA.
Achievements
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic — 2013
- Affiliated with European Space Agency and Italian Space Agency
- Educated at University of Naples Federico II
- Worked as astronaut, aircraft pilot and amateur radio operator
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