Orion and its European Service Module around the Moon

Artist impression of Artemis II: Orion and its European Service Module flying around the Moon. The lunar flyby will occur around halfway through the mission, where Orion and its crew will fly around 7500 km beyond the Moon. They will be the first humans to see the lunar far side with their own eyes in over half a century, since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

The European Service Module is the powerhouse of the Orion spacecraft that will ferry astronauts towards the Moon and back during Artemis II. Our module provides life support for the astronauts - air, water, and a comfortable temperature - as well as electricity with its four solar arrays and propulsion through space with its 33 engines.

Built by European industry led by ESA, the European Service Module is assembled by prime contractor Airbus in Bremen, Germany, with contributions from more than 20 companies across 10 European countries.