Artemis V

The launch will be on a Space Launch System rocket from the usual Launchpad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. The mega Moon rocket will propel four astronauts inside Orion to the Moon as well as well as tug the ESA’s Esprit refuelling module for installation on the lunar Gateway.

Once in orbit around Earth, the exploration upper stage will boost Orion and Esprit to the Moon. Orion will then detach from the second stage and the European Service Module-5 will use its 24 reaction control thruster engines to turn itself around and return to the Esprit module that flew to space under a separate compartment of the SLS rocket fairing. Orion will attach itself to Esprit, pull the module away from the second stage and tug it to the Gateway on its four-day journey to lunar orbit.

The Orion and the European Service Module will tug the module into position around the Moon and dock with the Gateway, pushing Esprit into position.

The Esprit refuelling module will then be part of Gateway’s core structure. The module is 4.6 m in diameter and 6.4 meter in length and will weigh around 10 tonnes on Earth filled with fuel.

The module has four main functions: transport cargo to the Gateway, provide storage space once docked, provide fuel to the Gateway propulsion system, and provide a view of space and the Moon through its windows.

Third Artemis Moon landing

Part of the Artemis V mission will see two astronauts leave Gateway and descend to the Moon for a stay on the lunar surface – the third Moon landing for Artemis.

While two astronauts stay on the Gateway and continue setting up Esprit, two Artemis colleagues will transfer to a landing system that will undock from the Gateway and land on the Moon. During a complete orbit of Orion and Gateway, the two moonwalkers will conduct science on the Moon and return to Gateway six days later.

Once reunited, the astronauts will have up to five days in orbit to transfer supplies and samples from the human landing system to Orion for the return home.

Going back to Earth

When ready and the hatches are closed, the European Service Module-5 will gently pull Orion away from the Gateway and start its voyage back to Earth. Much like in the Artemis III mission, Orion will get a gravity assist from the Moon, with the European Service Module’s main engine firing to boost itself around the Moon and onwards to Earth.

Approaching Earth from the south, reentry into Earth’s atmosphere will see Orion arrive at speeds of about 40 000 km/h. Less than an hour before touchdown the European Service Module will say farewell to the Orion Crew Capsule and together with the Crew Module Adapter the expendable parts of Orion will burn up harmlessly over uninhabited parts of Earth.

Our atmosphere and 11 parachutes will reduce the spacecraft’s speed for a splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

Technical details

Duration: 3-4 weeks

Launch Mass

• Launch mass of European Service Module: 13 500 kg
  • 8600 kg of propellant
  • 240 kg of drinking water
  • 30 kg of nitrogen
  • 90 kg of oxygen
• Total Orion launch mass: over 20 tonnes
  • Orion payload volume up to 0.57 m3
  • Orion payload mass up to 380 kg
• Esprit refuelling module
• Diameter: 4.6 m
• Length: 6.4 m
• Cargo capacity: 1500 kg
• Mass on Earth with fuel: 10 000 kg
• Windows: six

Artemis V step by step

1. Launch by Space Launch System from pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, USA
2. Mission control perform final checks in low-Earth orbit
3. Translunar injection by exploration upper stage (EUS)
4. Transposition manoeuvre: Orion separates from EUS, turns around, docks with Esprit and extracts it from EUS
5. Orion and European Service Module take Esprit to the Moon
6. Flyby of the Moon with gravity assist
7. Arrival at Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit
8. Docking with Gateway and connection of Esprit to Gateway
9. Transfer of equipment and astronauts
10. Install and activate Esprit as part of Gateway
11. Prepare lunar lander for departure to Moon
12. Undocking of landing system with two astronauts for lunar sortie
13. Orion does six-day complete orbit of Moon while docked to the Gateway as two astronauts work and explore the lunar South Pole.
14. Liftoff of human landing system from the Moon
15. Human landing system docks with Gateway
16. Transfer of supplies and setup for home trip to Earth
17. Orion undocks from Gateway with all four astronauts
18. Departure from Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit
19. Main engine fires for lunar gravity assist back to Earth
20. Homeward cruise
21. Separation of the Crew Module from the expendable elements of Orion (the European Service Module and the Crew Module Adapter)
22. Reentry of the Crew Module and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean