ESA signs cooperation with NASA on human space flight

The European Space Agency (ESA) has confirmed it will contribute to the human exploration of space by signing an agreement to aid NASA in its Orion missions.

The agreement confirms that ESA will provide the service module for the launch of NASA’s Orion spacecraft scheduled for 2017. The official confirmation follows a preliminary announcement at ESA’s ministerial meeting in November, at which ESA signalled it would in principle be willing to contribute to the mission.