ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano has urged the public to look beyond the record-breaking aspects of the Artemis II mission, which has taken humans farther from Earth than ever before. Speaking to Corriere della Sera, Parmitano said that for astronauts, such milestones remain secondary to the scientific and operational goals of the mission.
“An astronaut does not focus on records: they are marginal aspects,” he explained, emphasizing that those involved in spaceflight are primarily concerned with the mission’s technical performance and research objectives.
Parmitano, who is following the mission from Houston, also reflected on the emotional dimension of deep-space travel. The farther astronauts move away from Earth, he said, the stronger their sense of connection becomes, not only to the planet itself, but also to everyday life and the people they have left behind. Physical distance, he noted, does not translate into psychological detachment.
He also highlighted the mission’s technical complexity. For the first time, the Orion spacecraft is being used with all of its systems fully operational to support human life during a journey into deep space. So far, Parmitano said, the mission has unfolded as planned, but several delicate stages still lie ahead, including the return trajectory toward Earth, atmospheric re-entry and splashdown.
Beyond its scientific importance, Parmitano stressed the symbolic value of Artemis II, describing it as a mission capable of inspiring a new generation and drawing more young people - especially students - toward STEM disciplines.
As for his own future, the Italian astronaut did not hide his hope of one day taking part in a lunar mission. Much, however, will depend on the opportunities made available to European astronauts and on how relations between ESA and NASA develop in the coming years.