Thales Alenia Space announced a nearly $900 million contract on January 30 to develop the Lunar Descent Element (LDE) for the European Space Agency’s Argonaut, a cargo lander for lunar missions starting in the 2030s.

The LDE will transport and land payloads on the Moon, with an adaptable interface to support various cargo.

Argonaut’s first mission will deliver navigation, telecommunications, and energy systems for European exploration of the lunar south pole.

The lander, with a capacity of about two metric tons, could also support NASA’s Artemis missions, Space News has reported.

Thales emphasized Argonaut’s versatility, capable of carrying supplies, deploying rovers, and hosting experiments.

Written by B.C. Begley