service module

noun

: a space vehicle module that contains oxygen, water, fuel cells, propellant tanks, and the main rocket engine

Examples of service module in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Then, sometime this summer, ground teams at Kennedy will connect the Orion crew module to the ship’s service module before preparing the spacecraft for fueling. Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 28 Apr. 2026 The problem stems from a leak in the service module’s propulsion system, which affects the pressurization of propellant tanks. Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026 When reentry occurs, Orion's service module responsible for propelling and maneuvering the vehicle through space will separate and burn up, exposing the crew module's heat shield that protects the astronauts from the 3,000-degree Fahrenheit conditions the vehicle will endure. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026 Once separated, the service module will be discarded, reenter Earth's atmosphere and burn up over the Pacific Ocean. Tariq Malik, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for service module

Word History

First Known Use

1961, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of service module was in 1961

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Service module.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/service%20module. Accessed 3 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

service module

noun
: a part of a space vehicle containing oxygen, water, fuel cells, fuel tanks, and the main rocket engine
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster