Orion and European Service Module in Artemis rocket

Artist's impression of the top of NASA's SLS Artemis I Moon rocket with the Orion spacecraft and its European Service Module inside.

ESA’s European Service Module will be powering the Orion spacecraft to the Moon and back.

The European Service Module – or ESM – provides for all astronauts’ basic needs, such as water, oxygen, nitrogen, temperature control, power 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 European Service Modules are made from components supplied by over 20 companies in ten ESA Member States and USA.