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At\u202f00:35\u202fCEST today (18:35 local time on 1 April), NASA’s Space Launch System rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space\u202fCenter\u202fin Florida, carrying four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft on Artemis II.\u202fAt the heart of the mission is ESA’s European Service Module, which powers, propels and sustains the Orion spacecraft and its crew on their journey around the Moon and safely back to Earth.<\/p>\n
Over the next 10 days, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor\u202fGlover\u202fand Christina Koch, together with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will fly around the Moon and return safely to Earth, the first journey of its kind since Apollo 17 in 1972, over half a century ago.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
Powering Orion on this historic voyage is our\u202fsecond\u202fEuropean Service Module, which\u202fis responsible for\u202flife support for the astronauts, as well as power generation and propulsion. Its four solar arrays, each stretching seven metres,\u00a0give\u00a0electricity to the spacecraft, while its systems\u00a0provide\u00a0air,\u00a0water,\u00a0and\u00a0a comfortable\u202ftemperature for the astronauts. Thirty-three\u202fengines, including a powerful\u00a0repurposed Space Shuttle engine, will\u00a0guide Orion through deep space\u00a0and perform critical manoeuvres on the\u202flunar journey.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n