Photo credit: www.nasa.gov

Navigating the Heavens: Orion’s Progress Towards Moon Missions

NASA, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, has successfully attached three spacecraft adapter jettison fairing panels to the service module of the Orion spacecraft. This milestone was achieved on March 19, 2025, at the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building located within NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The service module, constructed in Europe, plays a crucial role in power generation and propulsion for the Orion spacecraft. Recently, four solar array wings were installed on its exterior, enhancing its capability to generate the necessary energy during lunar missions. The addition of the fairing panels serves a dual purpose: they will safeguard the solar array wings against the harsh conditions of launch—including heat, wind, and acoustic vibrations—and aid in distributing the immense loads experienced during the powerful ascent propelled by the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Once Orion reaches higher altitudes, these fairing panels will detach, permitting the solar wings to deploy fully.

Beyond providing power, the service module is equipped to deliver propulsion and essential life support systems such as thermal control, air circulation, and water supply. This functionality is vital for the Artemis II test flight, which marks NASA’s inaugural crewed mission in the Artemis program. Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, are set to embark on a 10-day journey around the Moon.

The Artemis initiative represents a significant leap forward in space exploration, as it aims not only to facilitate lunar discovery but also to harness economic opportunities and lay the groundwork for human missions to Mars, ultimately benefiting all of humanity.

Image credit: NASA/Glenn Benson

Source
www.nasa.gov