Yet another #Artemis II article (from a French press agency, no less) ignoring that propulsion, power, & life support to the Orion capsule are provided by ESA’s European Service Module.
Built in Bremen by Airbus, with parts from all over Europe, e.g. solar wings made in Leiden.
Also no mention of the fact that the ESM’s for the Moon-landing Artemis IV & V missions are to be supplied as part of ESA’s contribution to the Lunar Gateway.
Which NASA cancelled last week.
@markmccaughrean well, I suppose (geographical-) we could build the service modules and bits of #Gateway and look round for a different boost to #orbit and Beyond
If the missions make sense.
#SciFi #FredPohl wrote a series of #Heechee SF novels based on Gateway asteroid, a relic. Interesting. Dystopian Earth.
@Photo55 The problem is that while Europe has a new heavy launcher, Ariane 6, it's not human-rated, & thus launching European-built Gateway modules wouldn't make a lot of sense if you couldn't send people after them.
But these are high-level strategic issues which ESA & its member states are going to have to think about very hard, because the current US administration is bluntly not to be trusted, & if they have their way, it'll be last time one is elected democratically.
@markmccaughrean
Indeed.
People re-entry and launch capability makes some sense, particularly if the vehicle can also launch robots/telefactors/drones.
The various parts must march.
Mark McCaughrean
MidgePhoto