posted 10-14-2014 09:59 AM               

Orion-European Service Module (ESM) FM-1 patch

NASA's Orion spacecraft will carry astronauts further into space than ever before using a module based on Europe's Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATV).

ATV's distinctive four-wing solar array is recognizable in this concept. The ATV-derived European Service Module (ESM), sitting directly below Orion's crew capsule, will provide propulsion, power, thermal control, as well as supplying water and gas to the astronauts in the habitable module.

The first Orion mission will be an uncrewed lunar flyby in 2017, returning to Earth's atmosphere at 7 miles per second (11 km/s) — the fastest reentry ever.

posted 03-01-2017 08:03 AM               

Orion European Service Module flight model-2 logo

Orion is NASA's next spacecraft for sending humans into space. ESA has designed and is overseeing the development of Orion's service module, the part of the spacecraft that supplies air, electricity and propulsion.

The second mission with ESA's service module is Exploration Mission-2. This logo shows the Orion spacecraft exploring our Solar System, with the rear view highlighting the service module. The logo includes stylized depictions of Earth, the Moon and Mars – some of Orion's destinations.

The border includes the abbreviation ESM for European Service Module. Between the distinctive solar wings on the right are the characters "fm-2", denoting the second Flight Model for the spacecraft's second mission.

posted 05-31-2023 12:33 PM               

Orion European Service Module program logo

Logo for the first European Service Module (ESM) program that is powering NASA's Orion spacecraft to send humans into space and the Moon as part of the Artemis program. The spacecraft is designed to send astronauts farther into space than ever before, beyond the Moon and to the lunar Gateway.

ESA has designed and is overseeing the development of Orion's service module, the part of the spacecraft that supplies air, electricity and propulsion. Much like a train engine pulls passenger carriages and supplies power, the European Service Module will take the Orion capsule to its destination and back.

The Orion spacecraft is built by NASA with ESA providing the service module. The arrangement stems from the international partnership for the International Space Station. NASA's decision to cooperate with ESA on a critical element for the mission is a strong sign of trust and confidence in ESA's capabilities.

More than 20 companies around Europe are now building the European Service Modules as NASA works on Orion and the Space Launch System.

posted 05-31-2023 12:36 PM               

Orion European Service Module logos

Logos for the first through sixth European Service Modules (ESM) that are powering NASA's Orion spacecraft to send humans into space and the Moon as part of the Artemis program. The ESM is designed to send astronauts farther into space than ever before, beyond the Moon and to the lunar Gateway.