All articles tagged with #european service module
Artemis II’s Moon flyby benefited from the Airbus-built European Service Module, which provides propulsion, life-support and thermal control for Orion; the module performed flawlessly, underscoring Europe’s long-running role in human spaceflight and signaling ambitions to supply modules for Artemis III/IV and participate in the lunar Gateway through international cooperation.
The European Service Module (ESM) is ready to serve as the primary power and propulsion component for NASA's Orion spacecraft during the Artemis II mission, which will have real astronauts on board. ESM-2, a testament to ESA's contributions, will be connected with the crew module to create the Artemis II vehicle and thoroughly tested before launch next year. ESA is committed to sending astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit and the ESM is a key contribution to this joint international endeavor.
On International Moon Day, a stunning image captured during the Artemis I mission showcases the Orion spacecraft with its solar wing extending from the European Service Module, dividing Earth and the Moon. The Artemis program aims to establish permanent stations and outposts in orbit around the Moon, with Artemis II set to send four astronauts to orbit the Moon and return to Earth in 2024. The success of the test flight exceeded expectations, with the European Service Module playing a crucial role in enabling the mission's high-quality photos and providing surplus energy for repositioning the spacecraft and solar wings.
The European Service Module-2 for the Artemis II mission has been handed over to NASA by ESA's European Service Module production manager. The module will power the Orion spacecraft on the mission, which will see four astronauts complete a flyby of the Moon and return to Earth, collecting valuable flight test data. The module will go through further tests before being connected to the Orion crew capsule later this year, and the full spacecraft will be launched next year.