What is Argonaut?

Argonaut is a European lunar lander that will provide autonomous access to the Moon for Europe, allowing us to play a major role on the surface of our natural satellite. From the 2030s, Argonaut will launch on an Ariane 6 rocket and will be able to deliver cargo, infrastructure and scientific instruments to the Moon’s surface. This will support international lunar exploration, notably NASA’s Artemis programme, and our Terrae Novae strategy which aims to bring European astronauts to the Moon in the next decade.

 International space agencies are striving to reach the Moon and explore in a more sustainable way than during the Apollo era, with plans to live and work through the lunar night which lasts 14 days and can see temperatures plummet to a chilling -150°C. Argonaut's lunar descent element will bring up to 2100kg worth of cargo and payloads to the Moon that will help this endeavour.

 Argonaut is continuing the Apollo and Artemis tradition to name lunar missions after Greek mythology. Argonaut is the name given to the sailors of the Argo ship who took Jason on the quest to find the golden fleece.