The European Service Module (ESM) is unpacked inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building high bay on Nov. 7, 2018, at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
ESM is provided by the European Space Agency, and built by ESA contractor Airbus Defence and Space. It will supply the main propulsion system and power to the Orion spacecraft for Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), a mission around the Moon. The ESM also will house air and water for astronauts on future missions.
EM-1 will be an uncrewed flight test that will provide a foundation for human deep space exploration to destinations beyond Earth orbit. EM-1 will be the first integrated test of NASA’s Space Launch System, Orion and the ground systems at Kennedy. Photo credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky
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