Space exploration
Airbus is a leader in the fields of exploring the universe, scientific experiments platforms and establishing a human presence in space.
Pushing engineering to its limits
For decades, Airbus has been at the heart of space exploration, developing the technology that enables mankind to send spacecraft to planets, moons and comets.
Our clean rooms have been the starting point for several missions, including: Mars Express, Gaia and JUICE for which we designed and built the satellites for the European Space Agency (ESA).
NASA is planning to land astronauts on the Moon again with its Artemis programme. And for the first time ever, it has selected a non-US company, Airbus, to build the Orion European Service Module (ESM).
The commercial use of the International Space Station (ISS) is opening up opportunities for access to space. Whatever the mission in low Earth orbit, Airbus offers mission services on board the ISS, hosting either external payloads or experiments inside the ISS, as well as other microgravity options.
We are preparing for when the ISS comes to the end of its life with Starlab, the next generation space station.
To the Moon and Mars
Deep and outer space explorers
Space stations
Orion European Service Module
Back to the Moon
The European Service Module: an integral part of NASA’s Artemis mission
Under a European Space Agency (ESA) contract, Airbus builds the European Service Module (ESM), which both propels and manoeuvres the Orion spacecraft and provides the crew with water and oxygen.
Artemis II astronauts discover a key component of the Orion spacecraft
Understanding the hardware they’ll rely on is vital, as astronauts for the upcoming Artemis II Moon mission experienced.
Discover how the European Service Module takes shape
The ESM is a highly-complex spacecraft, with the assembly, integration and testing of more than 20,000 parts.
Sounding rockets
Through the TEXUS/MAXUS Sounding Rocket Programme, Airbus offers an end-to-end service to scientists and experimenters – a unique opportunity to perform technological experiments and investigations under microgravity conditions with key benefits: late access for sample installation, real-time transmission, telecommand capabilities, and short time samples delivery.
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The history of space exploration
Find out more about Airbus’ contribution to space exploration through some of our historic products such as Ulysses, Rosetta, Gaia ou MarsExpress.
Keep up to date with our latest news
In the spotlight
The Rosetta odyssey: first ever comet-chaser
On 2 March 2004 the ESA Rosetta mission lifted off on an Ariane 5 for a 7.9 billion km trip to a comet !
New legs for the Moon!
Airbus landing systems technology will be used in two commercial spacecraft to land on the Moon, Peregrine and Griffin.
Starlab Space Station to boost European Space Agency ambitions in low-Earth orbit
ESA, Airbus and Voyager Space signed a MoU at the ESA Space Summit in Seville, for the Starlab space station in the post-ISS era
Artemis II astronauts discover a key component of the Orion spacecraft
Becoming an astronaut is a rigorous process. After being selected, recruits have to endure a lengthy and intense training period.