“This is the first time astronauts are flying aboard Orion,” says ESA’s Director General Josef Aschbacher. “Artemis II builds on the success of Artemis I and confirms Europe’s essential role in humankind’s return to the Moon and future exploration beyond. ESA is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with its international partners, led by NASA. Together, we are demonstrating that cooperation remains our most powerful engine for the future.”

Over the next 10 days, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, together with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will fly around the Moon and return safely to Earth, the first journey of its kind since Apollo 17 in 1972, over half a century ago. 

Powering Orion on this historic voyage is our second European Service Module, which is responsible for life support for the astronauts, as well as power generation and propulsion. Its four solar arrays, each stretching seven metres, give electricity to the spacecraft, while its systems provide air, water, and a comfortable temperature for the astronauts. Thirty-three engines, including a powerful repurposed Space Shuttle engine, will guide Orion through deep space and perform critical manoeuvres on the lunar journey.