Orion service module

I see they have put out a press release about fitting the first test heat
shield to the capsule, and in that release they mention the service module.
I've heard little about this piece of hardware recently and wondered what
was being launched on this unmanned test. Is it just a dummy, or is it too,
now built and under test?
Description of the heat shield seem very familiar to me, having been
around during Apollo!
Just bigger!
Brian

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From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active

In message
"Brian Gaff" wrote:

I see they have put out a press release about fitting the first test heat
shield to the capsule, and in that release they mention the service module.
I've heard little about this piece of hardware recently and wondered what
was being launched on this unmanned test.

ESA are supplying the service module for the first two flights.
Simplistically it's the back end of an ATV with the Orion replacing the
pressurised volume.

Anthony

That may explain then why only one more atv is actually budgeted for.

Brian

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From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Anthony Frost" wrote in message
...
In message
"Brian Gaff" wrote:

I see they have put out a press release about fitting the first test
heat
shield to the capsule, and in that release they mention the service
module.
I've heard little about this piece of hardware recently and wondered
what
was being launched on this unmanned test.

ESA are supplying the service module for the first two flights.
Simplistically it's the back end of an ATV with the Orion replacing the
pressurised volume.

Anthony