Argonaut (lunar lander)

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Argonaut
Artist's view of the Argonaut lunar lander (Argonaut cropped).jpg
Manufacturer Flag of Italy.svg Flag of France.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Thales Alenia Space ‧ Flag of Germany.svg OHB System ‧ Flag of Finland.svg Flag of Norway.svg Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Nammo ‧ Flag of Luxembourg.svg Redwire
Operator European Space Agency logo.svg European Space Agency
ApplicationsLunar payload delivery and support
Specifications
Spacecraft typeUncrewed lunar lander
Launch mass10,000 kg (22,000 lb) [1]
Payload capacityup to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) [1]
Dimensions
Length6 m (20 ft)
Diameter4.5 m (15 ft)
Production
Statusproposal selection
Builtnone
Maiden launch2030 (planned)
Related spacecraft
Launch vehicle Ariane 64
Model of Argonaut at Paris Air Show in 2025 Maquette d'Argonaut au Salon du Bourget 2025 (Argonaut cropped).jpg
Model of Argonaut at Paris Air Show in 2025
3D digital model of Argonaut Argonaut lunar lander model 2.png
3D digital model of Argonaut
Artist's view of Argonaut on the Moon Artist's view of the Argonaut lunar lander.jpg
Artist's view of Argonaut on the Moon

Argonaut [3] or European Large Logistics Lander (EL3) is a class of lunar landers designed by the European Space Agency (ESA) in partnership with Thales Alenia Space to deliver payloads to the surface of the Moon. [4] The lander is being designed with a versatile set of uses in mind, including use as a power station, support for a rover, cargo delivery, and infrastructure delivery. It is envisioned to launch on the Ariane 64 launch vehicle. [5] [6] [7]

Contents

Design

The Argonaut lander will consist of a descent element, cargo platform, and payload. Capable of delivering up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb), [8] the craft will reportedly be able to land with an accuracy of 250 meters [9] and to last up to five years on the Moon. [8] The lander's reaction control system will consist of 24 monopropellant thrusters. [9] [10] Each of the three main engines, using electric pumps and MMH/MON as propellants, [10] will be able of generating 6 kN of thrust [11] and will be throttleable to 50%. [10]

Background

The lander is being developed under the ESA's Terrae Novae programme for crewed and robotic space exploration. [12] [13] Thales Alenia Space (Italy) is the prime contractor and system integrator for the Lunar Descent Element. [14] [15] Thales Alenia Space (France) is developing data-handling subsystems and computers. OHB System AG (Germany) is responsible for guidance, navigation, and control systems, as well as communication and electrical power systems including solar arrays and batteries. Thales Alenia Space (UK) is providing propulsion subsystems including propellant tanks. Nammo (UK) is providing the RELIANCE main engine. [16] [17] [18] [19] Redwire Corporation (Luxembourg) is developing the robotic arm known as Manipulator for Argonaut Payload Needs and Unloading Support (MANUS). [20]

Project history

In 2022, ESA successfully sought funding for the lander at its ministerial council. [21] [12] In 2023, Neil Murray became the Engineering Team Leader for Argonaut. [8]

In 2024, ESA committed to an Argonaut mission in 2031 [22] and awarded a contract to develop a robotic arm for use on the lander to Redwire Space. [23] Two designs were considered for the lander's main engine: the SPE-T developed by ArianeGroup and tested first in 2024, [24] and the RELIANCE engine by Nammo. [11] [25]

On 30 January 2025, ESA awarded a contract to Thales Alenia Space (Italy) to build the descent element of the lander [26] [27] and later in 2025, Thales Alenia Space signed agreements with Thales Alenia Space in France, OHB in Germany, and Thales Alenia Space and Nammo in the United Kingdom for supplying various subsystems of the Lunar Descent Element. [28] [29] [30] [19] The first mission of Argonaut was scheduled for 2030. [16]

In March 2025, ESA and JAXA signed a statement of intent detailing possible future cooperation between the Argonaut lunar lander and the Japanese pressurised rover under development for the Artemis program, as well as possible Japanese scientific investigations on Argonaut. [31]

Before the ministerial council in November 2025, ESA has prepared a €600 million funding request for further development of Argonaut, leading to the first Moon landing in 2030, with a plan to build five landers. [32] [9] The second mission was planned for 2033. [10]

Missions

ArgoNET

ArgoNET (Argo Navigation, Energy, and Telecommunications) will be the first operational flight of the programme, planned for launch in 2030. It will deliver navigation, energy, and telecommunications infrastructure and will serve as a selenodetic reference station for the Moonlight satellite constellation. [2] [8] ArgoNET will include the NovaMoon system, designed to enhance the accuracy of the Moonlight initiative's satellite navigation services to reach sub-meter levels across the entire Lunar south pole. [33] [34] [35]

Astrophysical Lunar Observatory

If approved, the Astrophysical Lunar Observatory (ALO) will be a low-frequency radio interferometer on the far side of the Moon consisting of several hundred antennas. The observatory is expected to be deployed by Argonaut around 2035. [36] [37] [38]

See also

Lunar landing programmes by country

References

  1. 1 2 "Argonaut". www.esa.int. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Argonaut: Europe's lunar lander programme". www.esa.int. Retrieved 3 April 2025.
  3. ↑ "Argonaut: a lunar ship – ESA – Exploration" . Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  4. ↑ "The Moon in our sights | Airbus". www.airbus.com. 29 November 2022. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  5. ↑ "What is Argonaut?". www.esa.int. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  6. ↑ "Argonaut". www.esa.int. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  7. ↑ Airbus Defence and Space (14 October 2020). EL3 European Large Logistic Lander . Retrieved 25 May 2024– via YouTube.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Shaw, Niamh. "Europe's moonshot: Argonaut and the Irish engineer leading the way". The Irish Times. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 "Argonaut 'fully European' freighters will learn lessons from previous crashes". Aerospace America. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "ESA's Argonaut press conference". www.esa.int. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  11. 1 2 Parsonson, Andrew (11 October 2024). "Nammo UK Submits Bid for Argonaut Lunar Lander Main Engine". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  12. 1 2 "Ministers back ESA's bold ambitions for space with record 17% rise". www.esa.int. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  13. ↑ "TERRAE NOVAE: Preparing for ESA Council at Ministerial level 2025" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 August 2025.
  14. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (31 January 2025). "ESA Awards €862M Argonaut Moon Lander Contract to Thales Alenia Space". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  15. ↑ "ESA taps Thales Alenia Space for lunar lander". Archived from the original on 27 April 2025. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  16. 1 2 "Argonaut lunar lander family grows". www.esa.int. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  17. ↑ "ESA and Thales Alenia Space present the industrial consortium for Argonaut Lunar Descent Element". www.esa.int. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  18. ↑ "Argonaut 'fully European' freighters will learn lessons from previous crashes". Aerospace America. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  19. 1 2 Southgate, Vix (24 November 2025). "NAMMO UK Wins Main Engine Supplier for ESA Argonaut Lunar Lander". The British Interplanetary Society. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  20. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (25 May 2024). "ESA Awards Contract for Argonaut Robotic Arm to Redwire". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  21. ↑ Foust, Jeff (21 October 2022). "ESA finalizes package for ministerial". SpaceNews. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  22. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (17 July 2024). "ESA Targets 2031 for First Argonaut Lunar Lander Mission". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
  23. ↑ "Redwire Awarded Contract by European Space Agency to Develop Robotic Arm Prototype for Argonaut Lunar Lander to Support International Lunar Exploration". Redwire Space. 22 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
  24. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (25 June 2024). "ESA Signs Off on Argonaut Lunar Lander Engine Test". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  25. ↑ "Rocket specialist surges ahead after touching down at new home| News | Westcott Venture Park". Westcott Venture Park. Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  26. ↑ "Argonaut: a first European lunar lander". www.esa.int. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  27. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (31 January 2025). "ESA Awards Thales Alenia Space €862M Argonaut Moon Lander Contract". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 19 February 2025.
  28. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (23 November 2025). "Thales Alenia Space Finalises Industrial Team for Lunar Lander". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 23 November 2025.
  29. ↑ "ESA unveils Thales Alenia Space-led consortium for its Argonaut lunar lander".
  30. ↑ "Thales Alenia Space Signs Multiple Contracts to Shape the Consortium Carrying Out the Lunar Descent Element for ESA's Argonaut".
  31. ↑ "ESA and JAXA strengthen ties on Moon and Mars exploration". www.esa.int. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  32. ↑ "ESA Preps €600 Million Plea For Argonaut Lunar Lander Mission | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  33. ↑ GNSS, Inside (11 April 2025). "NovaMoon: A New Paradigm in Lunar Exploration". Inside GNSS - Global Navigation Satellite Systems Engineering, Policy, and Design. Retrieved 27 September 2025.
  34. ↑ "CM25 – Explore and Discover". www.esa.int. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  35. ↑ "European satellite navigation opens new chapter at ESA's Ministerial Council". www.esa.int. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  36. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (18 October 2024). "ESA Publishes Call for Telescope on the Far Side of the Moon". European Spaceflight. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  37. ↑ "Astronomical Lunar Observatory". SciSpacE. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  38. ↑ "We're going to put a radio telescope on the back side of the Moon". University of Groningen. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
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