The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Spacecraft orientation explained on an artists impression of NASA's Orion spacecraft for Artemis, with the European Service Module. In space you can fly in all dimensions, this illustration shows the names used in spacecraft control.
Artemis is a series of missions to propel humankind forward to the Moon and beyond. The Artemis programme aims to establish permanent stations and outposts in orbit around our natural satellite. During the Artemis I test flight, the Orion spacecraft flew without astronauts. NASA provided the rocket and the crew capsule and ESA the European Service Module – Orion's 'powerhouse’.
Orion’s can fly in a three-degree of freedom attitude control mode, as opposed to the six degree of freedom mode it typically flies in. Flying in six degree of freedom mode entails that whenever Orion changes its angle of roll, pitch and yaw, the net result does not change its course through space, only the angle of flight of the spacecraft. In this mode the reaction control system thrusters compensate for any drift that might occur from changing attitude by pushing back and keeping Orion on a steady heading. Mission control tested flying in just three dimensions during the Artemis I mission – so only controlling the roll, pitch and yaw – which uses less fuel and requires less complex calculations. The disadvantage of three dimension of freedom mode is that Orion will inevitably start to drift off its original course, and this will need to be corrected in futre burns.