Editing Automated Transfer Vehicle (section)

== Basis for European Service Module ==
{{main|European Service Module}}
[[File:Orion with ATV SM.jpg|thumb|Orion spacecraft including the ATV derived service module]]
In May 2011 the ESA director general announced a possible collaboration with NASA to work on a successor to the ATV.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13286238 |title=US and Europe plan new spaceship |work=BBC News |date=5 May 2011 |access-date=14 May 2011| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110506062354/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13286238| archive-date= 6 May 2011 | url-status= live}}</ref> Later that year, a proposal to utilise an ATV derived service module for NASA's [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion]] capsule was revealed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14986217 |title=European tech could propel Nasa's Orion capsule |work=BBC News |date=20 September 2011 |access-date=20 September 2011}}</ref> This service module would be provided as barter for the ESA's 8% share of the operating expense of the ISS, which had been fulfilled up to 2017 by the five ATVs. Developing a service module for Orion would cover the ESA's share of ISS operation up to 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1107/26mpcveurope/index.html |title=Europe seeks greater role in NASA's exploration missions |publisher=Spaceflight Now |date=26 June 2011 |access-date=26 June 2011}}</ref> 
{{quote box|width=23em|"ESA's contribution is going to be critical to the success of Orion's 2017 mission"|—NASA Orion Program manager<ref name=osm/>}}
In June 2012, the ESA awarded two separate studies to Airbus, each worth €6.5 million, to evaluate options for using technology and experience gained from ATV and [[Columbus (ISS module)|''Columbus'']] related work to cover the ESA's share of ISS operation past 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.astrium.eads.net/en/press_centre/astrium-awarded-two-atv-evolution-studies-from-esa.html |title=Astrium awarded two ATV evolution studies from ESA |publisher=Astrium |date=21 June 2012 |access-date=23 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403045627/http://www.astrium.eads.net/en/press_centre/astrium-awarded-two-atv-evolution-studies-from-esa.html |archive-date=3 April 2013}}</ref> One study looked into developing a service module for Orion, while the other examined development of a multipurpose vehicle that could resupply space stations, remove debris, and service satellites in orbit. The studies were to be completed before the end of 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1206/21atvfuture/ |title=ATV evolution studies look at exploration, debris removal |publisher=Spaceflight Now |date=21 June 2012 |access-date=23 June 2012}}</ref>

At the meeting of the ESA Ministerial Council in November 2012, the ESA committed to developing the service module,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/11/uk-steps-up-esa-commit-atv-service-module-orion/ |title=UK steps up, as ESA commit to ATV Service Module on NASA's Orion |publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com |date=21 November 2012 |access-date=8 March 2015}}</ref> and in mid-December signed an agreement with NASA to provide an [[European Service Module|ATV derived Orion service module]] for the [[Artemis 1|maiden launch]] of Orion on the [[Space Launch System]].<ref name=osm/> The module is referred as European Service Module (ESM).{{Cn|date=July 2021}}

The ESA awarded [[Airbus Defence and Space]] a €390 million ($488 million) contract in November 2014 to develop and build the ESM.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-airbus-group-space-usa-idUSKCN0J11F320141117 | title=Airbus wins contract for US space capsule Orion |work=Reuters|date=18 November 2014 |access-date=18 November 2014}}</ref>