ESA Ships Artemis 4 Orion Module to NASA After Trump's Cancellation Attempt – Lunar Mission Saved!

Описание: Artemis 4 Orion service module
The European Space Agency (ESA) has shipped the critical Orion service module for NASA's Artemis 4 mission to the Moon, just after the Trump administration's attempt to cancel it. Discover how this key component, providing propulsion, power, and life support, survived budget cuts and secured funding.
Trump's 2026 NASA budget proposed slashing $18.8 billion, aiming to end the Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion after Artemis 3 in 2027, while favoring commercial alternatives and eliminating the Lunar Gateway. But a last-minute save came via the 'Big Beautiful Bill' pushed by Senator Ted Cruz, allocating $41.1 billion for SLS Artemis 4 and 5, $2.6 billion for Lunar Gateway, and more for Orion.
ESA's role in the Artemis program
As part of a barter deal with NASA, ESA built this module for 650 million euros, heading to Kennedy Space Center for integration. Artemis 4, set for 2028, will deliver the Lunar I-Hab module to the Gateway and enable another crewed lunar landing.
Previous ESA modules powered Artemis 1 in 2022, with Artemis 2 (crewed orbit) in 2026 and Artemis 3 (landing) in 2027 upcoming. Despite ongoing budget battles and criticisms of the smallest NASA funding since 1961, international partnerships like ESA-NASA keep lunar exploration alive.
Space news updates on Artemis program, NASA budget cuts, Trump space policy, Orion spacecraft, and future Moon missions.