The European Space Agency has awarded Airbus Defense and Space the construction of three more European Service Modules (ESMs) aimed at returning humans to the Moon. The new contract is in addition to the three ESMs already in production.
The European Service Module is ESA's contribution to NASA's Orion spacecraft, responsible for sending astronauts to the Moon as part of the program Artemis. Concretely, this cylindrical module, four meters in diameter and in height, will supply electricity, water, oxygen and nitrogen to the crew module. Radiators and heat exchangers will also keep astronauts and equipment at a comfortable temperature.
It is also he who will ensure the insertion into lunar orbit, the rendezvous maneuvers with the HLS (Human Landing System) landing module and then with its landing module. ascent. Finally, he will be responsible for "reinjecting" the Orion ship on its return trajectory to Earth.
To do this, each ESM will have four solar panels spanning nineteen meters in length once deployed. More than eight tons of fuel will also be available to power its main engine, as well as thirty-two small thrusters allowing the ship to steer in all directions.
In short, you got it, the European Service Module (ESM) is a centerpiece of the Artemis program . However, each ESM is built by the company Airbus Defense and Space. Many other companies throughout Europe also participate by supplying components to Airbus.
Three other European service modules had already been ordered by NASA. The first ESM is at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, in preparation for the Artemis I test flight. During this mission, scheduled for November, the Orion spacecraft (uncrewed) will orbit the Moon before returning to Earth.
The second ESM will fly astronauts around the Moon a year later as part of the Artemis II mission.
Finally, the third ESM will transport astronauts as part of the Artemis III mission which plans to return humans to the lunar surface. This is still scheduled for 2024, even if, we are not going to lie to each other, there is a good chance that it will be postponed.
A few days ago the space agency European Union has entrusted Airbus Defense and Space with the construction ofthree more of these modules . The ESMs announced this week will be used on Artemis IV-VI missions . If all goes as planned, these modules will transport the selected astronauts to the future space station in lunar orbit.
As a reminder, it is from this "gateway" that astronauts will eventually reach the lunar surface. The idea would be to be able to rely on it for a few years (fifteen years or more), the time to be able to build a more sustainable infrastructure directly on the surface. Moreover, it is also planned that ESA will also build the main habitation module of this station.
