Integration of Orion’s European Service Module

ESA and Airbus are playing a major role in the next step in human spaceflight by developing the European Service Module for Orion, NASA’s next-generation exploration spacecraft that will send astronauts on missions beyond the Moon.

The module sits below the crew capsule, and provides propulsion, power, thermal control, water and air.

The first full Orion mission, Exploration Mission-1, will be an uncrewed flight more than 64 000 km beyond the Moon in 2018 to demonstrate the vehicle’s performance before a crewed flight.

Based on decisions from the ESA Ministerial Council meeting in November 2012, the European industrial team led by Airbus Defence and Space is developing and building the European Service Module for Exploration Mission-1, drawing on extensive experience gained from building the five Automated Transfer Vehicle supply ferries for the International Space Station.

Provisional programme

Hall 43, Airbus Defence and Space, Bremen, Germany

• 10:30 Doors open and welcom
• 11:00 Start of the event. On podium
  • Jan Wöerner, ESA Director General
  • Jim Free, NASA Deputy Associate Administrator for Technical, Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate
  • Philippe Deloo, ESA head of Orion ESM programme
  • Tbd, DLR
  • Bart Reijnen, Airbus DS Head of On-Orbit-Services and Exploration
  • Walter Cugno, Thales Alenia Space, Vice President Exploration and Science
  • Michael Hawes, Lockheed Martin: Vice President & Orion Program Manage
• 11:50 Q&
• 12:15 Individual interview
• 12:45 Refreshment
• 13:30 End of event, more photo opportunities, ‘tour’ of the flight model

How to apply

Media with valid press credentials should contact Airbus by 16 May 2016 at: [email protected].

IMPORTANT: security regulations mean that a valid identity card / passport is required to enter the premises. Press cards are not recognised for access to the premises.