Thales Alenia Space Secures €862M ESA Contract for Lunar Descent Element

Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has signed a significant contract worth €862 million with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the design, development, and delivery of the Lunar Descent Element (LDE) for ESA's Argonaut Mission. The contract, announced on January 30, 2025, in Cannes, France, marks a crucial step in Europe's autonomous access to the Moon and its commitment to the Artemis program.

The Argonaut lunar lander, designed by Thales Alenia Space, is a versatile spacecraft capable of delivering cargo, rovers, and scientific missions to the Moon's surface. The LDE, a key component of the Argonaut spacecraft, is responsible for flying to the Moon and landing on the target. The contract awarded to Thales Alenia Space includes responsibility for mission design and integration, ensuring the successful execution of the Argonaut Mission.



The Argonaut Mission is planned to be launched from the 2030s, with the first mission envisioned to deliver dedicated navigation and telecommunication payloads, as well as energy generation and storage systems to the Moon's southern area. This contract is a testament to Thales Alenia Space's leading positions in the fields of space transportation systems, orbital infrastructures, and space exploration.

Thales Alenia Space's consolidated legacy, advanced technology, and long-standing expertise in space exploration put the company at the cutting-edge of space and human exploration. The Argonaut lunar lander project will strengthen Thales Alenia Space's skills in several technological areas essential to space exploration beyond the Moon, contributing to the future space ecosystem and preparing for humanity's future life and presence in space.

The Argonaut lunar lander project is a key component of the broader Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon by the end of the 2020s. The project aligns with the Artemis program's goals of facilitating long-duration manned lunar exploration missions and increasing European autonomy in lunar exploration. The Moon will also serve as a stepping stone for crewed missions into deep space, with Mars being the next stage of the journey.

Thales Alenia Space's CEO, Hervé Derrey, expressed his gratitude to ESA for awarding this new contract to the company, stating that the Argonaut lunar lander means a lot to the company and will be crucial in increasing European autonomy in lunar exploration. Giampiero Di Paolo, Deputy CEO and Senior Vice President, Observation, Exploration, and Navigation at Thales Alenia Space, emphasized the company's commitment to investing in technological solutions to help Europe achieve sustainable access to the Moon.

The Argonaut lunar lander project is expected to bring significant technological advancements and innovations to Europe's autonomous access to the Moon. Thales Alenia Space's expertise in propulsion, data handling, guidance, navigation, and control systems, as well as electrical power systems and telecommunications, will contribute to the project's success. The project will also strengthen partnerships with other international partners, enabling the Argonaut lunar lander to support a variety of missions and ensure the safe and successful delivery of cargo, rovers, and scientific instruments to the lunar surface.

In conclusion, Thales Alenia Space's €862 million contract with ESA for the Lunar Descent Element of the Argonaut Mission is a significant milestone in Europe's autonomous access to the Moon and its commitment to the Artemis program. The project aligns with Thales Alenia Space's long-term strategic goals and market positioning in the space industry, contributing to the future space ecosystem and preparing for humanity's future life and presence in space.