An important promise for Italy in the new adventure to the Moon. Italy has obtained a "formal commitment" from the European Space Agency (Esa) that one of two Italian astronauts from the class of 2009, namely Samantha Cristoforetti or Luca Parmitano, will participate in the planned mission aboard the future Lunar Gateway space station in lunar orbit between 2025 and 2030.

Meanwhile, two young Italians from the Italian Space Agency have been selected by Esa as reserve astronauts. They are Andrea Patassa, 31, from Spoleto in Umbria and Anthea Comellini, 30, from Chiari in the province of Brescia in Lombardy.