Argonaut (European Large Logistics Lander, EL3)

Mission specifications

Operator

ESA

Prime contractor

Thales Alenia Space (prime)

Launch

2031 (NET) — ArgoNET operational mission

Landing site

Lunar south pole region (specific site TBD)

Customer

ESA

Payload

Up to 2,100 kg payload (~10,000 kg launch mass)as of 2025-01-30^[1]6 m tall × 4.5 m diameter; 50-100 m landing precision target; launches on Ariane 64

Contract value

€862Mas of 2025-01-30^[2]Thales Alenia Space prime contract for Lunar Descent Element

Key findings

• 1.Intended to be Europe's first dedicated lunar lander program (formerly the European Large Logistics Lander / EL3), giving ESA autonomous, versatile access to the Moon's surface.
• 2.Will be built by a Thales Alenia Space-led consortium (with Thales Alenia Space UK and France, OHB and Nammo) under an €862M ESA prime contract for the Lunar Descent Element.
• 3.Designed as a three-part vehicle — descent module, cargo platform and payload — standing about 6 m tall by 4.5 m diameter with a launch mass near 10 tonnes, flying on Ariane 64.
• 4.Aims to deliver cargo and infrastructure to the surface (scientific instruments, rovers, technology demonstrators and crew resources such as water, air and food) in support of Artemis-era and lunar-base operations.
• 5.Engineered to survive the harsh lunar night and day for up to five years, providing a persistent European capability for sustainable lunar exploration.

Mission outcome

Argonaut is in development and has not flown. Under an €862M contract, a Thales Alenia Space-led European consortium is building the Lunar Descent Element, with the first operational mission — ArgoNET — currently targeted for the early 2030s (recent ESA planning points to around 2030, after earlier schedules cited 2031) and a follow-on mission planned for 2033. If realized, Argonaut would give Europe its own independent, expendable cargo-lander capability — repeatedly delivering instruments, rovers and crew supplies to the lunar south-pole region and anchoring ESA's role in the international push toward a sustained human presence.