European industry will now take key elements from the design of its ATV to make the Orion service module.
BBC: Europe and US agree details for Orion astronaut spacecraft
Esa is expected to sign a formal contract with Astrium (Bremen, Germany) in the coming days to lead the production of the service module.
BBC: Europe and US agree details for Orion astronaut spacecraft
In one study, it will look at how the ATV's service module (propulsion and avionics) could be adapted to work with America's forthcoming Orion capsule.
If the project is approved, engineers would hope to have the propulsion unit, or service module, ready to fly on the American rocket's first test flight.
RKA, having still had no money from the government, quietly allowed the launch date of the service module to slip from April to December of 1998.
Delaying the service module therefore delays the whole project.
And that experienced gained and that trust that grew between our European partners and our Nasa teams allowed us to go ahead and put together this service module agreement you see today.
BBC: Europe and US agree details for Orion astronaut spacecraft
Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: NASA and the European Space Agency have signed an agreement calling for the Europeans to provide the service module for the Orion space capsule, the U.S. space agency's crew vehicle for exploration beyond Earth orbit.
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The weight of the lunar module, on top of the command and service module, was the main reason why the Saturn V rockets that shot Apollo astronauts into space needed to be the tallest, heaviest and most powerful ever flown, a record they still hold.
After an explosion in Apollo 13's service module cut off propulsion and power, the lunar excursion module (LEM) was used as a lifeboat to provide life support to the three astronauts, and the engine of its descent stage for course changes, until the command module could re-enter the atmosphere after a long coast around the moon.
The operator added a fifth module to its managed mobility service.
FORBES: Connecting marketers to the Forbes audience. What is this?
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