spacetoday.net: ESA, NASA agree on ATV-based service module for Orion

Posted: Thu, Jan 17, 2013, 6:05 AM ET (1105 GMT)
Orion with ATV-based service module (ESA)

NASA and ESA formally announced Wednesday that Europe will develop a service module for at least one Orion mission based on the ATV cargo spacecraft. The service module for the EM-1 Orion mission, an uncrewed launch on the first Space Launch System (SLS) launch planned for 2017, will be built by Europe. The module will be based on the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) cargo spacecraft Europe currently provides for taking cargo to the ISS, and this service module will take the place of ATV missions later this decade. The Orion crew module, interface adapters, and rocket engine will remain the responsibility of NASA, and no decision has been made on using the ATV-based service module for later Orion missions. European officials had previously agreed at a meeting last November to develop the Orion service module.