Press Release

SPACE SYSTEMS 9 November 2015

Airbus Defence and Space delivery for spacecraft brings crewed flight into deep space one step closer

. Structural test model to undergo dynamic testing at NASA test facility . Unmanned Orion spacecraft set to fly for the first time in 2018, paving the way to crewed missions to the Moon, and beyond.

Airbus Defence and Space delivered the first structural test model (STA) of the Orion , to NASA’s Plum Brook Station test centre in Sandusky, Ohio (USA). The hardware is the first of a series of service modules developed and built by Airbus Defence and Space on behalf of the (ESA) to provide the propulsion, energy supply and central elements of the life support system to NASA’s future crewed spacecraft Orion.

“The delivery of the structural test module marks an important milestone for the Orion programme and for Airbus Defence and Space, the first European supplier of a critical system to a crewed US mission in Space. I am very proud that the unequalled expertise of our teams, built-on the ATV successful missions, has been recognised and will be used over the next decades to contribute to the future crewed deep space missions,” said François Auque, Head of Space Systems.

After the initial static tests of this structure at plant in Turin, a series of dynamic tests essential for building the flying model of the Orion service module (ESM) will now be carried out at the NASA centre. These tests simulate conditions such as the loads and stresses that occur during a launch. In addition, the test results aim to determine whether structural and mass requirements are consistent with calculations and whether the service module satisfies NASA’s crew safety standards. The STA is an exact replica of the Orion service module, but without its functionality.

It is the first time that Europe has been involved in providing system-critical elements for a US crewed deep- project. In December 2012, NASA and the European Space Agency agreed to certify the in conjunction with the new US Orion spacecraft. This module is based on the design and the lessons learned from the automated transfer vehicle (ATV), which was also developed and constructed by Airbus Defence and Space on behalf of ESA as a supply craft for the International Space Station.

The plan is to use the Orion spacecraft for crewed missions to the Moon, to and into the depths of space. Systems is developing and building the space capsule for four or more astronauts on behalf of NASA. The ESM service module will propel the spacecraft, supply it with power and provide the main elements of its life support system.

Press Release

Exploration Mission-1 will be Orion’s first planned unmanned mission to a Lunar distant retrograde and return to . The aim of this mission is not only to demonstrate the spacecraft’s performance capabilities before its crewed deployment, but also to achieve qualification for NASA’s new Space Launch System. As part of Exploration Mission-2, the Orion is then scheduled to be launched into space not earlier than 2020 with astronauts on board.

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Airbus Defence and Space Airbus Defence and Space is a division of Airbus Group formed by combining the business activities of Cassidian, and . The new division is Europe’s number one defence and space enterprise, the second largest space business worldwide and among the top ten global defence enterprises. It employs more than 38,000 employees generating revenues of approximately €13 billion per year.

Press contacts: Astrid Emerit + 33 1 39 06 89 43 [email protected] Jeremy Close + 44 14 38 77 38 72 [email protected] Gregory Gavroy + 33 1 39 06 89 42 [email protected] Ralph Heinrich + 49 89 607 33971 [email protected] Mathias Pikelj + 49 75 45 89 123 [email protected] Francisco Lechón + 34 91 586 37 41 [email protected]

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