Orion’s service module is the powerhouse of the spacecraft, supplying 

it with the electricity, propulsion, thermal control, air and water it 

needs in space. After the Space Launch System rocket gives Orion 

the push it needs to venture toward deep space and detaches from it, 

the service module will propel the uncrewed spacecraft on its mission 

40,000 miles beyond the Moon and help it return to Earth, detaching 

before the crew module re-enters Earth’s atmosphere. For the first 

time, NASA will use a European-built system as a critical element 

to power an American spacecraft. Provided by ESA (European 

Space Agency) and its partner Airbus Defence and Space, the 

service module extends NASA’s international cooperation from the 

International Space Station into deep space exploration.

ORION’S

SERVICE

MODULE

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration
A versatile showcase of European space capability, the 

Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) has found its second 

life after completing its resupply role for the International 

Space Station.

ATV’s success is backed by nearly two decades of 

international partnership. The experience of close 

cooperation between different engineering cultures 

and teams has paved the way for joint projects on human 

space exploration.

Providing the service module for Orion will be the 

European Space Agency’s remaining in-kind contribution 

to the space station partnership.
70,360

The ATV was the only 20-ton 

class supply spacecraft able 

to automatically dock with the 

International Space Station.

This autonomous docking 

occured at speeds of 17,398 

miles per hour, as gently as a 

bee landing on a flower.

The ATV delivered 70,360 pounds of liquids, gas, 

propellant, water, and experiments as well as 

strawberries, tiramisu, Parmesan cheese and 

sleepwear to the International Space Station.
20,000

The Orion spacecraft is made of three 

primary elements - the launch abort 

system, the crew module, and the 

service module.

The European-built service module is 

comprised of 20,000 parts and components 

that must fit together perfectly and perform 

reliably. The service module has four solar 

array wings to provide power. 

Each wing is about 2 meters wide by 

7 meters long. Each solar array panel 

is about 2m by 2m in size.

Launch Abort 

System

2m 2m 7m

Crew

Module

Service

Module
The European Service Module is being built 

by 10 European countries as part of an 

international agreement between NASA and 

ESA (European Space Agency). The countries 

include Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, 

Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, 

and Switzerland.

Just one of the 2 meter by 2 meter panels of the 

four solar array wings has 1250 solar cells. All four 

wings combined have a total of 15,000 solar cells to 

convert light into electricity. 

Many of the ESA countries are participants 

in the production of the solar arrays.

4

Orion’s four solar array wings are made of three panels that 

provide enough electricity to power two three-bedroom homes.

10 1250
 1,000 1,000 sensors collected data on Orion’s service 

module as it was shaken on a vibration table at NASA 

Glenn Research Center’s Neil A. Armstrong Test 

Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. This testing simulated how 

Orion’s structure flexed and stood up to 35 tons of 

spacecraft weight during a launch.

 19 This Orbital Maneuvering System engine was used on 

the space shuttle to provide the thrust for orbital insertion, 

orbit circularization, orbit transfer, rendezvous, deorbit 

and abort situations and flew on 31 shuttle flights.

The engine flying on Artemis I flew on 19 space shuttle 

flights, beginning with STS-41G in October 1984 and 

ending with STS-112 in October 2002.

The Orion service module main engine provides nearly 

6,000 pounds of force. The engine is also equipped to 

swivel from side to side as well as up and down.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

www.nasa.gov