The fourth European Service Module (ESM-4), built in Germany by Airbus for NASA’s Orion spacecraft, is now prepared for shipment to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where it will support the Artemis program’s next phase of human lunar exploration.
The module was assembled at Airbus facilities in Bremen under contract to the European Space Agency (ESA). Once in the United States, ESM-4 will be tested and integrated with the Orion Crew Module. The unit will play a central role in the Artemis IV mission, which plans to send astronauts to live and work aboard Gateway, the first space station to orbit the Moon—supporting long-duration missions and future crewed exploration of Mars.
The European Service Module supplies propulsion, power, air, and temperature control for Orion. Its configuration includes solar arrays, fuel systems, life-support interfaces, and critical navigation hardware. As a “bolt-on” service section connected behind the crew capsule, it is essential for maneuvering the spacecraft throughout deep space transit.
Photo Airbus
