Return to the Moon with Orion
Return to the Moon with Orion

Orion is the soon to be launched new transport system to the lunar surface, and eventually to Mars.

Orion has a number of flights planned, of which the first one is shown here.

ESM 1 (shown here) is the unmanned pilot mission flying around the moon.

It is followed soon by ESM 2 which will have astronauts orbiting the moon and ESM 3 and 4 which will eventually bring astronaut finally back to the lunar surface.

As can be seen the animation at the end focusses on the back part of the S/C rather than the front (which will re-enter into the Earth’s atmosphere).

This is because the rear part, or the service module, is the part developed and delivered by Europe.