ESA’s fourth European Service Module (ESM-4) is preparing to depart from Airbus in Bremen, Germany, embarking on a transatlantic journey to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. This critical component will serve as the powerhouse for the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis IV mission, providing propulsion, electricity, water, and air for the crew while maintaining a comfortable cabin temperature throughout their voyage to the Moon.
Upon arrival in the United States, engineers will integrate the European Service Module with the Orion crew module and its distinctive European-built ‘X-wing’ solar arrays to assemble the complete spacecraft. The Artemis IV mission is particularly significant as it will also deliver ESA’s Lunar I-Hab habitation module to lunar orbit. There, it will connect with NASA’s Gateway modules to form the core of the international Gateway space station, humanity’s next orbital outpost around the Moon.
The development of the European Service Module is a major collaborative endeavour, uniting the expertise of engineers from more than 20 companies across 10 European nations. This pan-European effort, led by Airbus Defence and Space, showcases Europe’s pivotal role in major international space exploration partnerships. The module’s journey began with the construction of its backbone structure in the cleanrooms of Thales Alenia Space in Turin, Italy. This structure was then transported to Bremen for extensive integration, where over 11 km of wiring, 33 engines, and tanks holding more than 8000 litres of fuel and consumables were meticulously installed.
During the Artemis IV mission, the European Service Module will perform a critical maneuver after launch. It will fire its 24 reaction control thrusters to turn Orion around and dock with the Lunar I-Hab module. It will then propel the entire stack, including the crew of four astronauts, into lunar orbit. The addition of Lunar I-Hab to the Gateway will provide essential living space, enabling crews to live and conduct research in lunar orbit for up to 90 days, supporting sustained human presence and exploration.
This delivery marks a key milestone in Europe’s contribution to returning humankind to the Moon, providing the essential power and life-support systems that make deep space missions possible.
