The European Space Agency (ESA) has completed and is shipping the service module for NASA’s Orion spacecraft, securing a vital component for the Artemis 4 mission to the Moon. This delivery comes after a period of uncertainty, as the Trump administration previously proposed canceling the mission and related programs.
Near Cancellation and Last-Minute Salvage
In May, the Trump administration unveiled a $18.8 billion NASA budget proposal for 2026 that included sweeping cuts to lunar exploration. The plan signaled a shift away from the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft after the Artemis 3 mission in 2027, with intentions to replace them with commercial alternatives. The Lunar Gateway, a planned lunar orbiting station, was also targeted for elimination.
However, a last-minute amendment spearheaded by Texas Senator Ted Cruz within the broader “Big, Beautiful Bill” secured funding for both the Lunar Gateway and continued Orion/SLS flights beyond Artemis 3. The final legislation allocated $2.6 billion for the Gateway, $41.1 billion for SLS launches (including Artemis 4 and 5), and $20 million for a new Orion capsule. This reversal ensured the Artemis program would continue, albeit after a period of significant risk.
The European Service Module’s Role
The ESA-built service module is an essential component of the Orion spacecraft, providing propulsion, power, and life support during lunar missions. ESA is delivering the module under a barter agreement with NASA, in exchange for European astronaut seats on U.S. launch vehicles to the International Space Station.
The module is currently en route from Europe to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for integration into the Orion spacecraft. ESA secured a €650 million ($791 million) contract in 2021 to produce service modules for Artemis missions 4, 5, and 6.
Artemis Program Timeline
The Artemis program is structured as follows:
- Artemis 1: Completed in December 2022, an uncrewed test flight.
- Artemis 2: Scheduled for April 2025, the first crewed lunar orbit mission since the Apollo era.
- Artemis 3: Planned for 2027, aiming to land astronauts on the Moon using the Starship HLS lander.
- Artemis 4: Expected to launch in 2028, delivering the Lunar I-Hab module to the Gateway station.
Broader Implications
The ESA’s contribution to Artemis highlights the importance of international partnerships in space exploration. Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director of Human and Robotic Exploration, emphasized the module’s role in delivering the Lunar I-Hab, a key component of the Gateway station.
However, the Trump administration’s proposed budget cuts also put other ESA-NASA collaborations at risk, including the Venus explorer Envision and the LISA gravitational wave detector. The administration’s proposed budget, described as the smallest NASA budget since 1961, underscored the fragility of these projects amid shifting political priorities.
The continued delivery of the ESA service module for Artemis 4 underscores the resilience of the program despite recent cancellation attempts, while also highlighting the broader uncertainties facing international space collaborations amid evolving political and budgetary constraints.
