\n<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t22\/08\/2024<\/span> The European Service Module that will power the Orion spacecraft during the Artemis III mission to the Moon is soon on its way to the United States.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n ESA is delivering its third European Service Module to NASA as part of its key contributions to humankind\u2019s return to the Moon.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The service module has left the integration halls of Airbus Space in Bremen, Germany and will now sail to NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in the United States.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Built in Italy, assembled in Germany, and with contributions from all over Europe, the module\u2019s journey across the Atlantic Ocean will take 12 days on board the Canop\u00e9e<\/i>, the same ship that transported Ariane 6 to Europe\u2019s spaceport in French Guiana ahead of its inaugural flight.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The European Service Module propels NASA\u2019s Orion crew vehicle in space during Artemis missions and provides astronauts with essential resources including electricity, water, temperature control and air.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n ESA has already provided two European Service Modules for NASA: the first was used during the successful Artemis I uncrewed mission, and the second is currently at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center for testing in the lead up to the Artemis II mission scheduled next year.<\/p>\n Now, the third European Service Module is on its way to join the second ahead of its own mission.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The third European Service Module began its journey in the manufacturing halls of Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy, where engineers built its chassis-like structure.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n This backbone supports all components of the module including: 11 km of wiring, 33 engines, four tanks with 2000 litres of propellant each, tanks with enough water and air for the crew during their mission and four seven-metre solar arrays providing enough electricity for two households.<\/p>\n From October 2020, the module and its components arrived to Airbus Space in Bremen, Germany, for assembly. The parts came from over 20 companies across more than 10 European countries, a testament to the cooperative effort behind this project.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Earlier this year, teams installed the third European Service Module\u2019s main engine.\u00a0This engine has already nine missions under its belt, powering the Space Shuttle orbiters Challenger, Columbia and Endeavour.<\/p>\n The module will soon leave Europe on its way to the United States.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Once the European Service Module arrives at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center, engineers will connect it to the Crew Module Adapter and later to the Crew Module itself, with plenty of testing before, in between and after to get the spacecraft ready ahead of the Artemis III mission.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t98<\/span> views<\/small><\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1<\/span> likes<\/small><\/span><\/p>\n<\/header>\n
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nESA\u2019s European Service Module<\/h2>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe road so far<\/h2>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nNext steps<\/h2>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n