European Space Agency

ALT ESA's fourth European Service Module inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA, on 31 July 2026. This module will power Orion on Artemis IV, planned to be the first mission to return astronauts to the lunar surface since Apollo 17 in 1972. In this image, the outer panels of the Crew Module Adapter have been removed to provide easier access during ongoing testing and assembly activities. The grey protective covering around the European Service Module shields the spacecraft's radiators and other sensitive hardware from dust, contamination and accidental damage while it remains in the cleanroom. Credit: NASA. Find out more: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2026/08/Moon-bound_powerhouse

ALT The crescent Earth rises above the lunar horizon in this photograph taken from the Apollo 17 spacecraft in lunar orbit during NASA's final lunar landing mission in the Apollo programme. Credit: NASA

ALT Earth sets beyond the Moon's horizon on flight day 6 of Artemis II, offering a beautiful view of our home planet from behind our natural satellite. The delicate blue arc contrasts with the stark lunar surface. Credit: NASA

ALT An Argonaut lander on the right, the wide lunar desert to the left, with hills and valleys. Credit: ESA-XR Lab.