. 24/7 Space News .
SPACE TRAVEL
Backbone of a spacecraft for missions to deep space
by Staff Writers
Paris (ESA) Sep 09, 2020

The first service module is already finished and will be integrated with the Crew Module and rocket adapters to sit atop the Space Launch Systems rocket. The first completed Orion craft is scheduled for a launch and fly-by around the Moon, without astronauts, next year on the first Artemis mission.

This structure is the frame and base for the European Service Module, part of NASA's Orion spacecraft that will return humans to the Moon.

Built in Turin, Italy, at Thales Alenia Space, this is the third such structure to roll out of production. However, this one is extra special, as it will fly the first woman and next man to land on the Moon and return on the Artemis III mission by 2024.

The structure is nearly complete and acts as a backbone to the Orion spacecraft, providing rigidity during launch.

Much like a car chassis, this structure forms the basis for all further assembly of the spacecraft, including 11 km of wiring, 33 engines, four tanks to hold over 8000 litres of fuel, enough water and air to keep four astronauts alive for 20 days in space and the seven-metre 'x-wing' solar arrays that provide enough electricity to power two households.

Orion's backbone will travel to the Airbus integration hall in Bremen, Germany, at the end of the month to integrate all the elements listed above and more. This third European Service Module will join the second in the series that is already in Bremen, and nearing completion, to be sent to NASA's Kennedy Space Center next year.

The first service module is already finished and will be integrated with the Crew Module and rocket adapters to sit atop the Space Launch Systems rocket. The first completed Orion craft is scheduled for a launch and fly-by around the Moon, without astronauts, next year on the first Artemis mission.

The countdown to the Moon starts in Europe with 16 companies in ten countries supplying the components that make up humankind's next generation spacecraft for exploration.

Read more about Orion and the Artemis missions here at ESA Blogs


Related Links
Orion and the Artemis at ESA Blogs
Space Tourism, Space Transport and Space Exploration News


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


SPACE TRAVEL
Boeing's Starliner makes progress ahead of flight test with astronauts
Kennedy Space Center FL (SPX) Aug 31, 2020
NASA and Boeing continue to make progress toward the company's second uncrewed flight test of the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft prior to flying astronauts to the International Space Station as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program. The Commercial Crew Program currently is targeting no earlier than December 2020 for launch of the uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) pending hardware readiness, flight software qualification, and launch vehicle and space station manifest priorities. Over the ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

SPACE TRAVEL
NASA seeks next class of Flight Directors for human spaceflight missions

Boeing's Starliner makes progress ahead of flight test with astronauts

The Seventh Meeting of the Japan-U.S. Comprehensive Dialogue on Space: Joint Statement

Russian cosmonaut sheds light on how ISS crew deals with suspected air leak

SPACE TRAVEL
With DUST-2 launch, NASA's sounding rocket program is back on the range

Engineers test Space Launch System rocket booster in Utah

NASA conducts SLS booster test for future Artemis missions

Northrop Grumman tests Space Launch System booster for Artemis

SPACE TRAVEL
Surprise on Mars

NASA Readies Perseverance Mars Rover's Earthly Twin

Nereidum Montes a mountain landscape formed by water, ice and wind

China releases recommended Chinese names for Mars craters

SPACE TRAVEL
China's reusable spacecraft returns to Earth after 2 days

Mars-bound Tianwen 1 hits milestone

China's Mars probe over 8m km away from Earth

China seeks payload ideas for mission to moon, asteroid

SPACE TRAVEL
Dragonfly Aerospace emerges from SCS Aerospace Group

Gogo announces entry into agreement to sell its Commercial Aviation unit to Intelsat for $400M in Cash

Satellite constellations could hinder astronomical research, scientists warn

Africa is investing more in space and satellite industry

SPACE TRAVEL
Making Perwave

Morocco, Netherlands, India, UAE to buy Longbow Fire Control Radars

US military sticks with Microsoft for $10 bn cloud contract

OCS tracking antenna support initial mission of LauncherOne

SPACE TRAVEL
New observations show planet-forming disc torn apart by its three central stars

Manchester experts' breakthrough narrows intelligent life search in Milky Way

Did meteorite impacts help create life on Earth and beyond

Bacteria could survive travel between Earth and Mars when forming aggregates

SPACE TRAVEL
Technology ready to explore subsurface oceans on Ganymede

Large shift on Europa was last event to fracture its surface

The Sun May Have Started Its Life with a Binary Companion

Ganymede covered by giant crater









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.