Thales Alenia Space Signs Multiple Contracts to Shape the Consortium Carrying Out the Lunar Descent Element for ESA's Argonaut

Thales Alenia Space, a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), has signed multiple contracts shaping the core industrial team that will build the European Space Agency (ESA) Argonaut Lunar Descent Element. ESA’s Argonaut Mission, planned for launch from the 2030s, will deliver cargo, infrastructure and scientific instruments to the Moon’s surface.

These contracts follow the one already signed between ESA and Thales Alenia Space in January 2025. It referred to the design, development and delivery of the Lunar Descent Element (LDE), including responsibility for mission design and integration.

As prime contractor and system integrator of the LDE, Thales Alenia Space in Italy leads the industrial consortium that is responsible for the system, the entry descent and landing aspects, as well as the general and specific architectures of the thermomechanical, avionics and software chains.

The core industrial team is made up of Thales Alenia Space in Italy, Thales Alenia Space in France, Thales Alenia Space in the UK as well as OHB System AG and Nammo, part of the consortium as strategic subcontractor for the propulsion.

“The creation of this consortium led by Thales Alenia Space represents a significant milestone in this challenging Argonaut mission,” said Giampiero Di Paolo, Deputy CEO and Senior Vice President, Observation, Exploration and Navigation at Thales Alenia Space. “Under the leadership of the European Space Agency and alongside the consortium partners, Thales Alenia Space is playing a pioneering role to enable the European autonomous access to the Moon”.

“Thales Alenia Space has supplied a significant proportion of the International Space Station’s pressurized volume and is playing a major role on board Artemis, manufacturing as well key elements of Orion’s European service module and leading flagship transportation programs, thus confirming once more time that our company is a major player at the forefront of exploration and space transportation systems”, Thales Alenia Space President and CEO Hervé Derrey added.

The consortium at a glance:

• Thales Alenia Space in Italy: prime contractor and end-to-end system integrator including architectures definition, final verification and validation as well as assembly integration and testing.
• Thales Alenia Space in France: responsible for the design, development, and validation of the Data Handling Sub-System, including Middleware software, as well as the procurement of its component equipment including On-Board Computers.
• Thales Alenia Space in the UK: responsible for the Propulsion subsystem development and for the procurement of main components, in particular Propellant tanks and Thruster.
• OHB System AG: responsible for guidance, navigation and control (GNC), electrical power systems (EPS) and telecommunications (TT&C) subsystem, as well as procurement of its component equipment (Solar array, batteries, LIDAR, series of transponder).
• Nammo (Nordic Ammunition Company): responsible for the design and procurement of the Main Engine, critical assets, not only for the propulsion subsystem but also for the entire Argonaut LDE end item.