ESA’s Argonaut programme aims to create reliable and independent European access to the Moon, supporting regular deliveries of cargo, instruments, and infrastructure. The lander is built around a modular structure formed by the Lunar Descent Element, the Cargo Platform Element, and the payload.
OHB will supply the Electrical Power Subsystem, the Telemetry, Tracking, and Command Subsystem, and the Guidance, Navigation, and Control Subsystem. These systems will generate and distribute power, maintain communications with Earth, and ensure safe and precise landing using autonomous hazard detection.
“A European presence on the Moon is a vision we at OHB have been working toward for many years. That’s why we are thrilled to play a pivotal role in this mission by contributing essential subsystems to the Argonaut LDE, helping to further advance Europe’s space exploration capabilities,” said Chiara Pedersoli, CEO of OHB System AG. Her comments underline the company’s long term commitment to European lunar ambitions.
The Argonaut lander stands six metres tall with a diameter of 4.5 metres and a launch mass close to ten tons. It can deliver roughly 1.5 tons of payload to the lunar surface and is designed to touch down with an accuracy of at least 250 metres near the Moon’s south pole.
Engineers have built the lander to withstand lunar nights that can reach minus 150 degrees Celsius and last up to 14 days in total darkness. This resilience is central to its planned role in regular European lunar transport.
The first Argonaut lander is scheduled to launch in 2030 on an Ariane 6.4 rocket. After a seven day journey, it will enter low lunar orbit for up to 45 days before descending to the surface.
