A European lunar lander being developed to provide the continent with autonomous access to the Moon is set to launch in 2031, according to a development call published last week by the European Space Agency (ESA).
The robotic lander, named Argonaut, is expected to lift off in a Ariane 6 rocket, which after a long series of delays made its debut flight July 9th.
THAT wants Argonaut to make multiple deliveries of cargo and scientific instruments to MoonThe lander will be able to carry up to 4,600 pounds (2,100 kilograms), including food and water for future astronauts, to any location on the lunar surface, with an accuracy of better than 330 feet (100 meters), according to the Mission Description.
“No area is off-limits to Argonaut; the spacecraft will be able to land in any region of the Moon,” the description says.
THAT Forecasts Five Argonaut missions in the 2030s, each lasting between a week and a month from launch to landing. The lunar lander has three main components: a lunar descent element responsible for flying to the Moon and landing; the payload, which could be a rover, scientific instruments, or other equipment; and a cargo platform, which serves as the interface between the other two elements.
In May, ESA awarded a prize contract Florida-based Redwire Corporation to develop a prototype robotic arm for Argonaut that will support its logistics operations by unloading, retrieving and positioning objects.
The 2031 release date was first reported on July 17 by European space flightsThe website noted that ESA has already completed studies for the so-called “European Lunar Charging Station,” which would be a system launched aboard the Argonaut and serve as a refueling station on the Moon.
ESA is also working on a “Moonlight” navigation and communications capability that would enable a high-speed connection to the Gateway space station around the Moon, the development of which POT is leading as part of its Artemis Program.
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