ESA’s third European Service Module (ESM-3), for NASA’s Artemis III mission, has departed from the Airbus facility in Bremen, Germany, and will soon leave Europe on its way to the United States. This marks a critical milestone in Europe's continued contribution to humankind’s return to the Moon.

Manufactured in Italy, assembled in Germany, and built with components sourced from over 20 companies across more than 10 European countries, ESM-3 embodies the spirit of international collaboration. The module will now make its way to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center port aboard the transport ship Canopée, a journey that will take approximately 12 days across the Atlantic Ocean.

ESM-3 ready for departure   

The European Service Module is an essential component of NASA’s Orion spacecraft, providing power, propulsion and life-support systems for astronauts during their deep space missions. This marks the third such module delivered by ESA, following the successful Artemis I mission and the ongoing preparations for Artemis II.

The journey of ESM-3 began in Turin, Italy, at Thales Alenia Space, where the module’s structural backbone was constructed. This complex structure supports 11 km of wiring, 33 engines, four tanks of propellant and solar arrays that can generate enough electricity to power two households. Following assembly in Bremen, the module’s main engine—an engine with a legacy of nine Space Shuttle missions—was installed earlier this year.

Orion ESM-3 main engine  

Upon arrival at Kennedy Space Center, ESM-3 will be integrated with the Crew Module Adapter and the Crew Module itself. Rigorous testing will follow to ensure that everything is ready for the Artemis III mission, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon for the first time since the Apollo era. This departure represents a key step in ESA’s partnership with NASA, demonstrating Europe's commitment to advancing human exploration beyond Earth.

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