Return to the moon

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.