Luca Parmitano

Luca Parmitano
Name	Luca Parmitano
Birth date	1976-09-27
Birth place	Paternò, Sicily, Italy
Occupation	Aviator (military), Test pilot, Astronaut
Employer	European Space Agency
Alma mater	Italian Air Force Academy, University of Naples Federico II

Luca Parmitano is an Italian air force officer, test pilot and astronaut who serves as a flight engineer and mission commander for long-duration missions aboard the International Space Station. A graduate of the Italian Air Force Academy and the University of Naples Federico II, he was selected by the European Space Agency in 2009 and has participated in multiple expeditions, contributing to scientific research, international cooperation, and public outreach initiatives involving agencies such as NASA, Roscosmos, JAXA, and CSA.

Early life and education

Born in Paternò, Sicily, Parmitano attended local schools before enrolling at the Italian Air Force Academy in Pozzuoli. He earned a degree in Political Science from the University of Naples Federico II while completing officer training at the academy, and later attended advanced programs including the Royal Air Force College Cranwell-style curricula and international exchanges with institutions such as the US Air Force Test Pilot School and Empire Test Pilots' School. During this period he trained with units associated with Aermacchi, Lucecchio Air Base, and participated in flight operations linked to NATO exercises alongside members of Allied Air Command and European Defence Agency-coordinated missions.

Military and test pilot career

Parmitano served as an officer in the Italian Air Force flying advanced jet trainers and combat aircraft, including types produced by Lockheed Martin, Eurofighter GmbH, and Alenia Aermacchi. Assigned to operational squadrons, he took part in international deployments with NATO detachments and multinational aviation exercises like Red Flag-style simulations and Exercice Ample Strike. Selected for test pilot training, he completed courses and served at establishments connected to the National Flight Test Center and collaborated with manufacturers such as Leonardo S.p.A. and MBDA on flight test programs. His test pilot experience involved work on avionics, flight control systems, and weapon integration trials used by organizations including OTAN task groups and European aerospace consortia.

European Space Agency selection and training

In 2009 Parmitano was chosen by the European Space Agency as an astronaut candidate, joining a cohort that trained at ESA facilities in Cologne (Köln), European Astronaut Centre, and international training centers including Johnson Space Center and Star City (Russia). His curriculum encompassed spacecraft systems instruction referencing vehicles such as the Soyuz (spacecraft), Orbital ATK Cygnus, and Space Shuttle-era operations, as well as survival training from programs affiliated with the United States Navy and Russian Air Force search-and-rescue units. He qualified as a European Space Agency-certified astronaut and participated in analogue missions and microgravity research projects supported by partners like ESA Directorate of Human and Robotic Exploration and European Space Research and Technology Centre.

Spaceflights

Parmitano's first long-duration mission was as flight engineer on Expedition 36/Expedition 37, launching aboard a Soyuz TMA spacecraft to the International Space Station. During that mission he conducted scientific investigations coordinated with institutions such as European Space Agency, NASA, and European Southern Observatory partners. He returned to space as commander of Expedition 60/Expedition 61, launching on a SpaceX Crew Dragon or aboard international crew rotations that involved collaboration with Roscosmos and NASA mission planners. His flights included experiments in biology, physiology, fluid physics, and technology demonstrations supporting programs like ESA Columbus and NASA Cupola-hosted observations of Earth regions including Mediterranean Sea, Sahara, and polar areas monitored by Copernicus Programme satellites.

Extravehicular activities

Parmitano has performed multiple extravehicular activities (EVAs) in extravehicular activity suits working on the exterior of the International Space Station modules such as ESA's Columbus module, Unity (ISS module), and Tranquility (ISS module). His EVAs addressed maintenance tasks, installation of scientific hardware, and troubleshooting of systems associated with arrays and thermal control elements used by partners including NASA Johnson Space Center and JAXA mission operations. Notably, during one EVA he encountered a life-threatening helmet water intrusion event that required immediate contingency procedures coordinated with mission control centers in Houston, Moscow, and Cologne (Köln), prompting procedural reviews by agencies like ESA and NASA to update safety protocols for future spacewalks.

Awards and honors

Parmitano has received honors from institutions such as the Italian Air Force and the European Space Agency, including service medals and commendations recognizing contributions to human spaceflight. He has been awarded distinctions from regional bodies in Sicily and national orders associated with the Italian Republic, along with recognition from aerospace organizations like AIAA-affiliated groups and European defense and aviation societies. Internationally, he has been acknowledged by partners across NASA, Roscosmos, and multinational scientific consortia for mission leadership and contributions to microgravity research.

Personal life and public outreach

Parmitano is married and has family ties to communities in Paternò and Catania (province). He is active in public engagement through collaborations with institutions such as European Space Agency, NASA, and educational bodies including the European Space Education Resource Office and universities like the Politecnico di Milano and Sapienza University of Rome. His outreach initiatives encompass media appearances on platforms connected to broadcasters such as RAI, BBC, and CNN, participation in science festivals alongside organizations like Festival della Scienza, and partnerships with nonprofits that promote STEM education, including foundations allied with European research infrastructures.

Category:Italian astronauts Category:European Space Agency astronauts