Thales Alenia Space to supply thermomechanical systems for Orion European Service Module

Thales Alenia Space, joint venture between Thales (67 %) and Leonardo (33 %) has signed a contract with Airbus Defence and Space, prime contractor for US space capsule Orion service module, to develop and produce the thermomechanical systems for the third model of the European Service Module (ESM) on the Orion spacecraft.
Orion is NASA's human transportation vehicle for deep space exploration. The Orion service module will be developed under ESA contract and will provide structure, propulsion, power supply, thermal control and main life support capabilities for the American spacecraft.

The ESM3 contract signed by Thales Alenia Space is worth approximately 75 million euros. Thales Alenia Space, as contractor of Airbus Defence and Space, will develop and supply critical service module systems for the third flight unit, including structure & micrometeoroid protection, thermal control and consumable storage and distribution.

“This contract confirms the Thales Alenia Space unrivaled know how in exploration infrastructure and transport," said Walter Cugno, Vice President Exploration and Science Domain at Thales Alenia Space. "It also reflects our company's long-standing expertise in human spaceflight. The future of inhabited space exploration depends on the robustness of the technologies, the safety and the comfort of the astronauts, Thales Alenia Space solutions are combining these three parameters.”