back to article European Space Agency picks Thales Alenia Space to build lunar lander

The European Space Agency (ESA) has inked a deal worth €862 million with Thales Alenia Space to develop a lunar lander. The lander, called Argonaut, is designed to carry cargo to the lunar surface and will consist of three parts: the Lunar Descent Element (LDE), which will be responsible for the journey to the Moon and landing …

  1. LogicGate Silver badge

    On first thought, this sounds like an attempt at building an old-school lander in a world where the technology is very much in flux, and wehere it is not unlikely that the Lander will be overtaken by more modern technology before a flight is attempted, but after money has been spent.

    HOWEVER

    In the world we live in, where a many decades old ally is talking about creating article 5 conditions by attacking other allies, basing one's future on having said ally providing unrestricted access to space is blue-eyed. Better an uneconomic access to space than no access to space.

    I hate this timeline

    1. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

      "overtaken by more modern technology before a flight is attempted"

      This is the usual situation when development takes a long time. Of course if you wait for the new technology to arrive before starting development you run into the same situation.

      1. LogicGate Silver badge

        trust me, I know all about this, however, the situation right now is particularily volatile, with starship beginning to demonstrate some capabilities which were unthinkable 3 years ago.

        I grew up with TinTin flying to the moon in a rocket that landed on its tail. This rocket was big enough to take along a tank which could then be used to explore the surface of the moon. ..Clearlya pipedream

        At the point where I could have directed my career into rocket engineering, the most exiting project was an upper stage which would use folding rotor blades to autorotate into a controlled landing. There was NO percievable movement on breaking the cycle of cancelling all new projects before they could get into orbit.

        Today we may be on the brink of opening access to space for all sorts of non-governmental activities. It is exciting, and starting this month, very very scary....

      2. MachDiamond Silver badge

        "This is the usual situation when development takes a long time. "

        It's also been a general practice of using components that have been around for some time so their characteristics are well known. Rad hard versions of semis are usually older designs and less complicated architecture.

  2. Chris Gray 1
    Trollface

    non-optimal

    Nice picture, except...

    Bad choice for a landing spot. A couple meters further "back" and the landing could have failed, or the thing could have tipped over.

    Looks like they put in blast marks for the landing engines, but I don't see any footprints - how did the astronauts get there?

    1. Gene Cash Silver badge

      Re: non-optimal

      There AREN'T any "good" choices for a landing spot on the Moon. You have to deal with what you get.

      Apollo 15 landed with one leg in a crater deep enough to tilt it 10 degrees.

      1. MachDiamond Silver badge

        Re: non-optimal

        "Apollo 15 landed with one leg in a crater deep enough to tilt it 10 degrees."

        At that time there was nowhere near the mapped resolution that exists now. It should be much easier to select landing sites that are flat and boring. My vote would be for one of those near what looks like a cave entrance. Domes on the surface aren't a great idea.

  3. TVU

    European Space Agency picks Thales Alenia Space to build lunar lander

    I definitely want this mission to succeed and I expect that it will return some pretty interesting science results.

  4. Winkypop Silver badge
    Thumb Up

    Bring it on

    I want my 4K Moon rover experience.

  5. spold Silver badge

    So good to see...

    ...that in the image there is a blue string soup dispenser bolted to the side of it. I, for one, look forward to trade relationships with our new lunar overlords (well ignore that for the US I believe the whacky chappy has outlined potential lunar tariffs on cheese).

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