OHB System AG has been awarded a contract to supply three subsystems for the Argonaut Lunar Descent Element (LDE), a key component of the European Space Agency’s (ESA) lunar exploration program. The official contract signing with prime contractor Thales Alenia Space in Italy took place today at the European Astronaut Centre in Cologne.
Through the Argonaut program, ESA is currently working to establish independent and sustainable European access to the Moon in order to carry out regular missions to deliver cargo, scientific instruments, and infrastructure to the lunar surface.
The Argonaut lander has a modular design and consists of three main components: the Lunar Descent Element (LDE), the Cargo Platform Element (CPE), and the payload. The LDE is the actual landing module and is responsible for safely delivering the payload to the lunar surface. As part of the core industrial team led by Thales Alenia Space in Italy, OHB was commissioned to supply three subsystems for the LDE:
TheElectrical Power Subsystem(EPS) is used to generate, store, and distribute electrical energy and consists, among other things, of permanently installed solar panels with a peak output of 900 watts, a 150-volt battery, and a distribution unit.
TheTelemetry, Tracking, and Command Subsystem(TT&C) is the key interface for communication with Earth. It is based on a dual-band architecture (X- and S-band) and enables, among other things, real-time video transmission of the landing.
TheGuidance, Navigation, and Control(GNC)subsystemnavigates and controls the lander from the moment it separates from the rocket's upper stage until it lands safely. By combining innovative algorithms that factor in the topographical characteristics of the lunar surface and autonomously detect hazards, the system enables an exceptionally precise landing.
“A European presence on the Moon is a vision we at OHB have been working toward for many years. That is why we are delighted to play a key role in this groundbreaking mission by providing critical subsystems for the Argonaut LDE. In doing so, we are making a decisive contribution to strengthening Europe’s space exploration capabilities,” said Chiara Pedersoli, CEO of OHB System AG.
Overall, the Argonaut lander is six meters tall, has a diameter of four and a half meters, and a launch mass of nearly ten tons. Its payload capacity to the lunar surface is approximately 1,500 kilograms. The plan is to land at the South Pole with an accuracy of better than 250 meters. Argonaut is designed to withstand the fourteen-day lunar nights in complete darkness and at temperatures as low as -150 degrees Celsius.
The launch of the first lander is scheduled for 2030 on an Ariane 6.4 rocket. After a flight lasting about seven days, the lander will be placed into low lunar orbit, where it will remain for up to 45 days before the descent and landing are initiated.
