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\nAfter years of planning, development, building and integration, the European Service module that will power the Orion spacecraft on its journey into lunar space is ready to be shipped. In November the fully integrated, tested, and sealed European workhorse will leave Bremen on an Antonov cargo plane for Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA where it will be integrated with the rest of the Orion spacecraft.\n<\/p>\n
\nESA\u2019s European service module will provide power, water, air and electricity to NASA\u2019s Orion exploration spacecraft that will eventually fly beyond the Moon with astronauts. The European Service Module is now complete for Orion\u2019s first mission that will do a lunar fly-by without astronauts to demonstrate the spacecraft\u2019s capabilities.\n<\/p>\n
\nOrion\u2019s solar wings will be shipped separately, also from Bremen. In the USA the module will be stacked together with NASA\u2019s Crew Module Adaptor and Crew Module, the first time the complete spacecraft will be on display.\n<\/p>\n
\nMore tests await the Orion spacecraft at NASA\u2019s Plum Brook facility where it will be put in the world\u2019s largest vacuum chamber to simulate spaceflight as well as being subjected to acoustic tests to simulate the intense vibrations Orion will endure when launched on the world\u2019s largest rocket, NASA\u2019s Space Launch Systems.\n<\/p>\n
\nThis is a proud moment for Europe. For the first time, NASA will use a European-built system as a critical element to power an American spacecraft, extending the international cooperation of the International Space Station into deep space. \n<\/p>\n
\nWork is already underway on the second European Service Module. The structure is complete and over 11 km of cables are being meticulously placed in preparation for the computers and equipment that will keep astronauts alive and well for the second Orion mission called Exploration Mission-2.\n<\/p>\n