Argonaut: Thales Alenia Space to Lead Production of ESA’s Lunar Lander

On January 30th, 2025, the European Space Agency announced that the company Thales Alenia Space had been selected to lead an industrial consortium for the construction of Argonaut, ESA’s first lunar lander.

With Argonaut, the agency aims to establish independent, versatile, and continuous access to the Moon for the transportation of vital resources, infrastructure, and commercial payloads, supporting international programs like Artemis. The vehicle will operate in integration with European lunar communication and navigation systems systems, such as the Lunar Link on the Gateway space station and Moonlight.

*Artistic view of the Argonaut lander on the surface of the Moon. Credits: ESA*

Today’s €862 million contract confirms the company’s leading role in developing key infrastructures and technologies for ESA’s space exploration projects, from Earth’s orbit to the Moon and beyond.

About Argonaut

The future European lunar lander is composed of three parts: the Lunar Descent Element (LDE), the Cargo Platform Element (CPE), and the designated payload.

Argonaut is set to be launched for the first time aboard the Ariane 64 rocket in 2031, as part of the ArgoNET mission. The lander is 4.5 meters in diameter, 6 m tall, and will have a landing accuracy of 50-100 m.

Argonaut will have to withstand the harsh environmental conditions of lunar nights and days for years and is developed with versatility as the main objective. It will be capable of delivering more than 1,500 kg of various payloads to the surface, including vital supplies for astronauts, rovers, production facilities, power stations, and science equipment like a lunar telescope.

*VR rendering of the Argonaut lunar lander. Credits: ESA*

As the prime contractor for the construction of the Lunar Descent Element, Thales Alenia Space in Italy will lead a consortium responsible for the descent and landing aspects, as well as the architectures of the thermomechanical, avionics, and software components.

Thales Alenia Space in France and the UK will develop data handling systems and propulsion. OHB System AG will be responsible for guidance, navigation and control, electrical power systems, and telecommunications.

Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA Director for Human and Robotic Exploration, stated: “Argonaut will enable Europe to contribute meaningfully to international partnerships while paving the way for a sustainable human presence on the Moon. Europe is on its journey to the Moon and has broken the ground towards European autonomy in Exploration.”