Delivering Esprit to Gateway

Animation showing the Orion spacecraft, powered by the European Service Module-5, delivering the Esprit to the Gateway, not shown is the lunar landing system that will also be docked to Gateway on arrival.

The mega Moon rocket SLS will propel four astronauts inside Orion to the Moon on Artemis V as well as deliver the Esprit module to the lunar Gateway.

Orion and the European Service Module will tug Esprit into position around the Moon and dock with the Gateway, pushing Esprit into position.

The Esprit refuelling module is part of the Gateway’s core structure. The module is 4.6 m in diameter and 6.4 meter in length. It weighs around 10 tonnes on Earth filled with fuel.

The Esprit Refuelling Module (ERM) has four main functions: transport cargo to the station, provide storage space once docked at Gateway, provide fuel to propulsion system of Gateway (NASA’s Gateway Power and Propulsion Element), and provide a view of space and the Moon through its windows.

The ERM has two main structural elements: the pressurised tunnel where astronauts can float inside (the white cylinder pictured above) and an unpressurised element surrounding part of the pressurised hull.

More on the Artemis V mission here: www.esa.int/artemisV