This is the first time that NASA has subcontracted such a large part of its manned spacecraft to a foreign country.
As often in its partnerships with the United States, Europe occupies an ambivalent place in NASA’s new Artemis program: both relatively modest in terms of American financial investment, but absolutely crucial operationally. . The European Space Agency (ESA) provides the ESM service module (European service module) of the Orion capsule. It is, in a way, the “engine room” of the manned spacecraft intended to carry future astronauts to the Moon.
This thick cylinder fixed behind the capsule is equipped with four large solar panels (increasing its wingspan to 19 meters when deployed) which provide electricity on board and 33 engines (1 main, 8 auxiliaries and 24 attitude control microthrusters ) that will allow the capsule to enter lunar orbit and then leave.
Flight without passenger
“We can never repeat it enough: every time NASA goes to the Moon, it will be partly thanks to Europe”remember…
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