The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
Go to topicThank you for liking
You have already liked this page, you can only like it once!
Argonaut's mission patch.
ESA’s Argonaut represents Europe’s autonomous and versatile access to the Moon, supporting international exploration endeavours on the lunar surface. From the start of the next decade, the spacecraft will launch on regular missions to the Moon. These could deliver infrastructures, scientific instruments, rovers, technology demonstrators and vital resources for astronauts on the lunar surface such as food, water and air.
Argonaut will be able to survive the harsh lunar night and day for five years, providing a key capability for sustainable lunar exploration.
Just as NASA with the Apollo and Artemis programmes, ESA drew inspiration from European mythology to name this lunar lander programme. Find out more about the symbolism behind the patch in our blog.