Argonaut or European Large Logistics Lander (EL3) is a class of

lunar lander A lunar lander or Moon lander is a Lander (spacecraft), spacecraft designed to Moon landing, land on the surface of the Moon. As of 2024, the Apollo Lunar Module is the only lunar lander to have ever been used in human spaceflight, completing s ...

s designed by the

European Space Agency (ESA) The European Space Agency (ESA) is a 23-member international organization devoted to space exploration. With its headquarters in Paris and a staff of around 2,547 people globally as of 2023, ESA was founded in 1975 in the context of European ...

in partnership with

Thales Alenia Space Thales Alenia Space () is a joint venture between the French technology corporation Thales Group (67%) and Italian defense conglomerate Leonardo (company), Leonardo (33%). The company is headquartered in Cannes, France. It provides space-based ...

to deliver

payloads Payload is the object or the entity that is being carried by an aircraft or launch vehicle. Sometimes payload also refers to the carrying capacity of an aircraft or launch vehicle, usually measured in terms of weight. Depending on the nature of t ...

to the surface of the

Moon The Moon is Earth's only natural satellite. It Orbit of the Moon, orbits around Earth at Lunar distance, an average distance of (; about 30 times Earth diameter, Earth's diameter). The Moon rotation, rotates, with a rotation period (lunar ...

. 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 an

Ariane 64 Ariane 6 is a European expendable launch system developed for the European Space Agency (ESA) and manufactured by a consortium of European companies, led by the prime contractor ArianeGroup. As part of the Ariane rocket family, it is operated ...

launch vehicle. The Argonaut lander will consist of the descent element, cargo platform and payload. Capable of delivering up to , the craft will reportedly be able to land with an accuracy of 50–100 meters.

First mission: ''ArgoNET''

''ArgoNET'' will be the first operational flight of the programme, planned for launch in 2031. It will deliver navigation, energy, and telecommunications infrastructure and will serve as a selenodetic reference station for the

Moonlight Moonlight consists of mostly sunlight (with little earthlight) reflected from the parts of the Moon's surface where the Sun's light strikes. History The ancient Greek philosopher Anaxagoras was aware that "''the sun provides the moon with its ...

satellite constellation in order to improve navigation capabilities around the

lunar south pole The lunar south pole is the southernmost point on the Moon. It is of interest to scientists because of the lunar water, occurrence of water ice in Crater of eternal darkness, permanently shadowed areas around it. The lunar south pole region fea ...

Timeline

* In 2022,

ESA The European Space Agency (ESA) is a 23-member international organization devoted to space exploration. With its headquarters in Paris and a staff of around 2,547 people globally as of 2023, ESA was founded in 1975 in the context of European ...

formally sought funding for the lander in their ministerial meeting. * In 2024, Redwire Space was awarded a contract by ESA to develop a robotic arm for use on the lander. * Engine testing began in 2024. * In 2024, ESA committed to an Argonaut mission in 2031. * On 30 January 2025, ESA has awarded a contract to

to build the descent element of the lander. * In March 2025, ESA and

JAXA The is the Japanese national air and space agency. Through the merger of three previously independent organizations, JAXA was formed on 1 October 2003. JAXA is responsible for research, technology development and launch of satellites into o ...

have 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 The Artemis program is a Exploration of the Moon, Moon exploration program led by the United States' National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), formally established in 2017 via Space Policy Directive 1. The program's stated long-ter ...

, as well as possible Japanese scientific investigations on Argonaut.

References

External links

* {{Lunar landers European Space Agency Exploration of the Moon Landers (spacecraft) Soft landings on the Moon

First mission: ''ArgoNET''

Timeline

See also

References

External links