service module

American  

noun

1. (often initial capital letters) the section of an Apollo spacecraft containing the principal propulsion system, electrical system, water, and other supplies.

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service module British  

noun

1. a section of an Apollo spacecraft housing the rocket engine, radar, fuel cells, etc, and jettisoned on re-entry into the earth's atmosphere See also lunar module command module

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Etymology

Origin of service module

First recorded in 1960–65

Example Sentences

Its service module, providing propulsion and power, was developed by the European Space Agency, with Airbus serving as lead contractor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Several days into the mission, an oxygen tank on the spacecraft’s service module exploded, knocking out most of the power and oxygen to the command module.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 3, 2023

It's built Orion's service module, which provides the power and propulsion for the voyage.

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2022

The plane launched on May 17, 2020, carrying for the first time a service module that augmented how much it could take into space.

From Washington Times • Nov. 12, 2022

Twenty-one hours on the surface of the Moon for two astronauts in the lunar lander, while the service module circled the heavenly body in a parking orbit.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly