Handing over European service module for Artemis II

Yesterday, ESA formally gave possession of the second European Service Module to NASA for the Artemis II mission that can see 4 astronauts circle our moon and return to Earth.

Within the presence of one of many 4 Artemis astronauts that can depend on the European Service Module-2 for water, air, electrical energy, propulsion and temperature control on their two-week voyage round our moon, ESA’s European Service Module manufacturing supervisor Anthony Thirkettle and NASA’s Orion program supervisor Howard Hu signed the papers for the handover of the {hardware} at NASA’s Kennedy Area Heart in Florida, U.S.

The European Service Module-2 will energy the Orion spacecraft on the Artemis II mission that can see NASA astronauts commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch with Canadian Area Company astronaut Jeremy Hansen full flyby of the moon and return to Earth.

The crew will fly Orion to 8889 km past the moon earlier than finishing a lunar flyby and returning to Earth. The mission will take a minimal of eight days and can gather precious flight take a look at information, within the first time for over 50 years that people have voyaged to our pure satellite.

The European Service Module has 33 thrusters, 11 km {of electrical} wiring, 4 propellant and two stress tanks that every one work collectively to provide propulsion and every part wanted to maintain the astronauts alive removed from Earth—there is no such thing as a room for error.

“The handover is a formality, however it is a vital milestone for this system. It couldn’t have been achieved with out the super effort of all of the groups concerned,” mentioned Anthony, “ESA will proceed to work carefully with our NASA and business colleagues on getting the Orion spacecraft prepared for launch and all through the Artemis II mission.”

The European Service Module-2 will undergo additional exams earlier than being related to the Orion crew capsule later this 12 months. The total spacecraft will then be placed on monitor for the launchpad with fueling and integration with NASA’s mega moon rocket SLS for a launch subsequent 12 months.