ESA Taps Thales Alenia for Moon Cargo Lander Development
2nd Feb 2025
Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture of Thales and Leonardo, announced in a press release on 30 January that it had secured an €862 million contract with the European Space Agency (ESA) to design, develop, and deliver the Lunar Descent Element (LDE) for the Argonaut Mission. The company will also oversee mission design and integration.
The Argonaut Mission: Autonomous And Universal Access To The Moon For Europe
The ESA Council approved the Argonaut mission at the ministerial level in 2022 and is currently under development.
This mission is one of Europe’s contributions to international lunar programmes, primarily to NASA’s Artemis programme and commercial lunar lander services. In this way, ESA demonstrates its readiness to cooperate in establishing a permanent and sustainable human presence on the Moon.
Five missions are planned for the next decade, aligning with ESA’s Terrae Novae human and robotic exploration strategy.
‘If Europe wants to play a significant role in lunar exploration, it must have its capabilities,’ said Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA’s Director for Human and Robotic Exploration. ‘The signing of the Argonaut contract is a turning point for Europe’s lunar exploration ambitions,’ he added.
This comes as Europe prepares for possible changes in US space policy under President Donald Trump.
What do we know about the mission details?

ESA plans to launch a cargo delivery mission to the surface of the Moon after 2030 aboard an Ariane 64 rocket.
Once operational, ESA plans to use it for various applications, from cargo logistics to in situ resource utilisation.
The agency has already completed preliminary Phase A studies for the European Lunar Charging Station. The system will be launched aboard the Argonaut lunar landing module and will act as a petrol station on the moon that will be used to support manned missions on the lunar surface.
The spacecraft will regularly travel to the Moon to deliver scientific instruments and other payloads to its surface for future lunar missions. The ESA press release noted that this cargo will include rovers, technology demonstrators, and vital astronaut resources, such as food, water and air.
The first operational mission, ArgoNET, is expected to launch in 2031. It is designed to explore the southern part of the moon, deliver specialised navigation and telecommunications payloads, and energy production and storage systems.
Lunar Argonaut Features

‘Argonaut’ will consist of three parts: the Lunar Descent Element (LDE). This cargo platform will interface the payload, the landing module, and the payload itself.
The cargo versions are not expected to enter service until Artemis VII.
The 6-metre tall spacecraft will carry between 12 and 15 metric tonnes and provide an automatic landing with an accuracy of 50 to 100 metres.
In addition, the landing module will be designed to work seamlessly with other ESA systems, such as Gateway. Gateway is a planned space station orbiting the Moon. Lunar Link will provide communication between the Gateway and the lunar surface. ‘Argonaut’ will also be integrated with Moonlight, ESA’s prospective project to provide communications and navigation services on the Moon.
Argonaut is expected to have a life cycle of 5 years. During this time, the instruments and systems will guarantee sustained lunar exploration despite the extreme conditions of the lunar environment, including long lunar nights and days.
‘This new element of the Artemis programme will contribute to long-term manned lunar exploration missions,‘ said Thales Alenia Space CEO Hervé Derrey, “The Moon will act as a ”stepping stone’ for human missions to deeper space, with Mars as the next destination.’
Who Will Be Part Of The Consortium?
Prime contractor Thales Alenia Space in Italy will lead the core development team for the Lunar Descent Element. Thales Alenia Space in the UK and France will focus on data processing and propulsion systems. OHB System AG will be responsible for guidance, navigation, and control, as well as electrical power systems and telecommunications.

A consortium led by Thales will be responsible for the system, descent and landing aspects and the general and specific thermo-mechanical, avionics and software architecture. At this time, ESA will initiate a separate selection process to select an industrial consortium that will assume overall responsibility for the ArgoNET mission. This industrial consortium is expected to be chosen by the end of 2026.
New Moon Mission And Greek Myths
‘The Argonaut’ continues the Apollo and Artemis tradition of naming lunar missions after Greek mythology. The name Argonaut is given to the sailors of the ship Argo, who took Jason in search of the golden fleece.
‘Argonaut’ means “sailors of the Argo,” and individual missions using ESA’s Lunar Lander Delivery Service will be named after individual mythical Argonauts.
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