The NASA-ESA Orion spacecraft on its way to fly around the Moon during the first Artemis mission
ESA provides the European Service Module which powers and propels each Orion spacecraft, as well as providing oxygen and water to the human explorers who will travel to the Moon during future flights. With 10 European countries contributing to the European Service Module, this powerful workhorse forms one of Europe’s main contributions to humanity’s return to the Moon.
The 25-day inaugural Orion mission in November 2022 proved key techniques for follow-on missions. NASA and ESA teams monitored the spacecraft as it passed as close as 130 km from the lunar surface. The spacecraft used the Moon’s gravity to sling it into lunar orbit and then later return it on course to Earth, before it finally splashed down in the Pacific Ocean.
The aim is to go back to the Moon to stay, so a way station is also being established in orbit around our natural satellite, the lunar Gateway. ESA is leading construction of the International Habitation Module and a refuelling module for the Gateway, as well as communication and radiation sensor systems. Follow-on Orion flights will deploy the Gateway modules, as well as transport astronauts to the station. They will then touch down from the Gateway to become the first Moonwalkers in more than half a century.