What specific capabilities will the Orion service modules and European astronauts provide for the Artemis mission?
ESA’s David Parker Updates Status of Orion Service Modules and European Astronauts for Artemis
David Parker, the Director of Human and Robotic Exploration at the European Space Agency (ESA), recently shared his thoughts on the progress of two important components for the Artemis mission: the Orion Service Module and the European astronauts who are being trained for exploration missions.
Orion Service Module
According to Mr. Parker, significant progress has been made on the Orion Service Module. The module is currently being tested at the European Space Research and Technology Centre in the Netherlands, and the tests will continue this summer. This is a crucial development, as the Orion Service Module is the main provider of the power and propulsive force that will be required to keep the Orion spacecraft in the necessary orbits.
European Astronauts
To complement the Orion Service Module, ESA has recently selected four extraordinary individuals for flights missions in connection with the Artemis mission. The astronauts are experienced ESA veterans Matthias Maurer, Samantha Cristoforetti, Andreas Mogensen, and Thomas Pesquet. All of the astronauts have gone through rigorous training to prepare for the mission, including testing of EVA equipment, vacuum chambers and ingesting challenging conditions.
Looking Ahead
ESA is confident that the progress they have made thus far on the Orion Service Module and the European astronauts will be important components of the Artemis mission. They are looking ahead to what they hope will be a successful mission, and they remain excited about the opportunities that the Artemis mission will provide to explore and learn more about space.
Key Points:
- Progress has been made on the Orion Service Module, which will provide the necessary power and propulsive force for the Orion spacecraft
- Four experienced ESA veterans have been selected for flights missions as part of the Artemis mission
- ESA is confident that the progress made thus far will be important for the Artemis mission
NASA Administrator David Parker recently provided an update on the status of the Orion Service Module and the European Astronauts who will fly on the Artemis Mission.
In a statement, Parker noted that the Orion Service Module, preliminary design of which is provided by the European Space Agency, is on track for completion by the end of 2021. The Service Module will provide elements such as propulsion and power to support the crew of the Artemis Mission on their journey to the moon.
He also noted that the European Space Agency will provide “at least one astronaut” for the crew of astronauts that will become the first human explorers of the Moon’s surface. This will be part of a multinational crew composed of astronauts and cosmonauts from many other countries.
In conclusion, Parker expressed his gratitude to the European Space Agency for their contribution and continued participation in the Artemis program. He conceded that the Artemis program is “a unique opportunity to celebrate international partnership and collaboration between nations as we push to explore new frontiers in space.”
He also thanked the European Space Agency for helping to realize a shared vision of an interconnected world, united by a common goal, that of “exploring space together.”