Orion spacecraft: ESA hands-on service module to NASA

Orion spacecraft: ESA hands-on service module to NASA

A central module for America's new Orion spacecraft comes from Europe and was manufactured in Germany. It's a major step in transatlantic cooperation in space exploration.

A look into the future: Orion heads for the planned lunar orbital station 'Deepspace Gateway'

The NASA's most important spaceflight project for the coming decades. For the first time since the end of the day, they will be able to make the most of Soyuz capsules.

Orion is set to take off in 2020 – initially unmanned – and circumnavigated the moon several times. The project is called "Exploration Mission 1." Later, the spacecraft, also known as the "Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle" (MPCV), will fly to the

Orion thus differs significantly from the smaller space transporters, such as the Dragon 2 from Space-X or the Boeing CST-100 Starliner. These two spaceships, built by private companies on behalf of NASA, will bring astronauts to the International Space Station as early as next year.

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Europe builds service module for NASA

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Europe builds service module for NASA

Europeans at the helm

The European Space Agency (ESA) is responsible for the European Service Module of the Orion spacecraft (ESM-1). It was badembled by engineers at Airbus in Bremen, where on November 2, 2018, it was handed over to NASA in a ceremony. Three days later, the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The ESM-1 is at the heart of Orion. It sits below the crew and contains more solar power to supply power. It is also responsible for the complete supply of fuel, oxygen and water to the spacecraft. Orion could not fly without the ESM and the European Space Agency experts are already building another one for a second, then a manned moon mission.

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A model in the Airbus factory in Bremen. The service module – the rear part with the solar panels

Building on experience

"The fact that NASA is giving us such a critical element in the future is an enormous sign of confidence," says Walther Pelzer, executive board member for space management at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The ESA had already demonstrated its capabilities during the construction of the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV), which was delivered to the ISS from 2008 to 2015. It is now drawing on this experience.

The ESM shows how closely the activities of the international space agencies are interwoven. The cooperation on Orion also has something to do with the many years of successful cooperation on the International Space Station.

"The provision of the ESM by Europe is part of a transatlantic barter trade," said Johannes Weppler, ESM program manager at DLR. "It serves as compensation for the costs of operating and supplying the ISS, which are bound by NASA."

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