NASA Receives Airbus Subsidiary-Built Orion Structural Test Model

NASA has received an Orion spacecraft module test model built by an Airbus Group subsidiary for evaluation at the agency’s Plum Brook Station in Ohio.

Airbus Defence and Space developed the hardware on behalf of the European Space Agency and to support a future U.S.-led manned deep space exploration mission, Airbus said Monday.

NASA and ESA signed an agreement in December 2012 to validate Orion’s European service module that will comprise the propulsion, life support and power generation elements of the Lockheed Martin-built spacecraft.

The ESM structure underwent static tests at Thales Alenia Space‘s facility in Turin, Italy.

Airbus Defence and Space based its Orion ESM design on an automated transfer vehicle that the company has developed to serve as an International Space Station supply craft.