The Orion service module , designed for NASA ‘s Artemis II mission , has completed a major phase of its preparation. NASA and Lockheed Martin technicians reported that the fairing panels were recently installed on the spacecraft’s adaptor, which will be completed on March 19, 2025, at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Control Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The functions of the Orion service module
This module, manufactured by the European Space Agency (ESA), is critical to the mission, providing propulsion, power, and life support to the Orion spacecraft. Its four solar panels, installed in early March, will provide the necessary electrical supply during the journey . Newly added fairing panels will protect these solar wings from heat, wind, and vibrations during launch and ascent. Once in space, these panels will detach to allow the solar wings to deploy.
On the other hand, Artemis II will be the first crewed mission in the Artemis program , carrying four astronauts on a 10-day trip around the Moon. The crew is composed of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency ( CSA ). This mission aims to lay the groundwork for future lunar exploration and, eventually, crewed missions to Mars.
Through the Artemis program, NASA seeks to explore the Moon for scientific discovery and economic benefits, as well as to establish a sustainable presence to prepare for future missions to Mars. International collaboration and the development of new technologies are fundamental pillars of this initiative.
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Source and photo: NASA
