The European lunar lander, designed to provide autonomous access for the continent to the Moon, is planned for launch in 2031, according to a development announcement published last week by the European Space Agency (ESA). The robotic lander, named Argonaut, is expected to lift off aboard an Ariane 6 rocket, which made its debut flight on July 9 after a long series of delays.
ESA aims for Argonaut to carry out multiple deliveries of cargo and scientific instruments to the Moon. According to the mission description, the lander will be capable of delivering up to 2,100 kg, including food and water for future astronauts, to any location on the Moon’s surface with an accuracy of up to 100 meters.
“There are no restricted zones for Argonaut; the spacecraft will be able to land in any region of the Moon,” the description states.
ESA forecasts five Argonaut missions in the 2030s, each lasting from one week to one month from launch to landing. The lunar lander consists of three main components: the lunar descent element, responsible for flying to and landing on the Moon; the payload, which could be a lunar rover, scientific instruments, or other equipment; and the cargo platform, which acts as the connecting link between the other two components.
In May, ESA signed a contract with Florida-based Redwire Corporation to develop a robotic arm prototype for Argonaut. This arm will support logistical operations by unloading, extracting, and positioning objects.
The launch date for 2031 was first reported on July 17 by the European Spaceflight website. The site noted that ESA has already completed the study of the so-called “European Lunar Charging Station,” which will be a system deployed from Argonaut to serve as a refueling station on the Moon.
Source: Space
