The European Space Agency (ESA) has awarded a contract worth €862 million to Thales Alenia Space to build its first cargo vehicle for the Moon. The Argonaut lunar lander is expected to carry 1.5 metric tonnes of cargo to the Moon roughly every two years, starting from 2031.
Thales Alenia Space defeated Airbus in the competition to build the lunar descent element, which will transport cargo to the Moon. Germany’s OHB will provide navigation control and communication elements for the lander. The Argonaut mission aims to enhance Europe’s independence in lunar exploration and take advantage of NASA’s Artemis programme, which plans to land humans on the Moon by 2027.
The contract win is a significant milestone for Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture owned by France’s Thales (67%) and Italy’s Leonardo (33%). The company has built space modules in the past, including nearly half of the pressurised modules for the International Space Station. Thales Alenia Space chief executive Hervé Derrey said the win “means a lot to the company” and marks a growing market for exploration.
The Argonaut contract is part of a booming lunar exploration market, driven by rising interest in sending humans back to the Moon and potentially to Mars. NASA has encouraged private sector involvement in its Artemis programme to reduce costs. The ESA’s head of human and robotic exploration, Daniel Neuenschwander, said Europe needs to come up with its own capabilities if it wants to play a substantial role in lunar exploration.
The contract win is expected to generate significant revenue for Thales Alenia Space, which generated €2.2 billion in annual revenues in 2023. The company’s owners are also considering consolidating their space assets with Airbus amid market downturns.
Source: https://www.ft.com/content/3963920e-afd7-407b-93e7-7a682917a234