ESA to seek lunar mapping capability for Argonaut lander
MILAN — The European Space Agency will rely on external lunar topographic data during the design phase of its Argonaut lunar lander, and possibly for its first mission, while working […] The post ESA to seek lunar mapping capability for Argonaut lander appeared first on Spa
Home / ESA to seek lunar mapping capability for Argonaut lander
!An illustration of ESA's Argonaut lunar lander. Credit: ESA - P. CarrilAn illustration of ESA's Argonaut lunar lander. Credit: ESA - P. Carril
MILAN — The European Space Agency will rely on external lunar topographic data during the design phase of its Argonaut lunar lander, and possibly for its first mission, while working toward developing its own lunar mapping capability for later missions.
Argonaut, first proposed at ESA’s Ministerial Council in Paris in 2022 and confirmed at the latest ministerial meeting in 2025, is a cargo lander designed to support NASA’s Artemis program while providing Europe with independent access to the lunar surface.
Several spacefaring countries with lunar ambitions have invested over the past two decades in high-resolution topographic mapping, which is essential for identifying safe landing areas and potential sites for future lunar infrastructure.
Europe, however, does not have sovereign lunar topographic data to support Argonaut. That means ESA will need to rely on existing mission data, including data that can be procured from other providers, at least for the early phases of the program.
“We currently rely in the design phase on mission data which are already available, which can also be procured,” ESA director of human and robotic exploration Daniel Neuenschwander said during a June 17 briefing after ESA’s 347th Council meeting.
Albeit not confirmed, the three most likely nations that can provide lunar maps to Europe are the United States, India or China. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, launched in 2009, has provided global lunar topographic maps at about 100 meters per pixel, with targeted imaging down to about 0.5 meters/pixel. India’s Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter High Resolution Camera, launched in 2019, can image selected areas at about 0.25 meters/pixel, making it one of the highest-resolution lunar mapping instruments currently in operation. China, from Chang’e-1 onwards, has also built up a substantial lunar mapping capability to support future landing and exploration activities.
The cost of purchasing topographic data from third parties has not been disclosed.
“We have put lunar mapping as a key objective for future smaller lunar missions, which we are developing right now,” Neuenschwander added. “They are still competing among themselves, but two of them will focus on lunar data mapping of the south pole in particular to give us this database, which is absolutely key \[to land on the moon\].”
Argonaut is designed to deliver up to 1,500 kilograms of cargo to the lunar surface. Mission 1 is currently targeting a landing at the lunar south pole in 2030, with follow-on missions expected every two to three years.
_Related_
Emma Gatti
Emma Gatti is a planetary scientist, editor and journalist, and serves as a research professor in Space Journalism and Current Affairs at the Faculty of Space Technology, AGH University of Krakow. She is also the director of The Space Republic, a media... More by Emma Gatti
SALE EXTENDED: Use UNICORNS30 for 30% off any new SpaceNews subscription. Ends June 30 ~~June 26~~. Terms apply.
Sign in or register
Close
Continue with Google
Or
Enter the code sent to your email
Email address
Enter your password
Sign in by entering the code we sent to , or clicking the magic link in the email.
ContinueResend codeEmail me a one-time code instead Forgot password Go back
Continue Set a password (optional)
We'll send a verification code to %EMAIL%.
Send code
Skip for now
30% OFF ANY NEW SPACENEWS SUBSCRIPTION: Use code UNICORNS30 and save on unlimited access to our news and analysis, including our June cover story tracking the surge in space companies valued at $1 billion or more. _Sale ends June 30._
To continue reading this article:
Register now to get
2 more free articles this month.
You’ll also receive our weekly Editor’s Choice, SpaceNews This Week and Opinions newsletters. Opt-out at any time.
Sign up
Sign in to an existing account
Get unlimited access to SpaceNews.com, the SpaceNews app and our digital monthly magazine for less than $5 per week.
$250/year
Subscribe now
_Cancel anytime. Sales tax may apply. No refunds._ _Terms and conditions apply._
Link
Copy link
Digital All-Access Subscription (Monthly) $25.00 / monthDigital All-Access Subscription (Quarterly) $70.00 every 3 monthsDigital All-Access Subscription (Yearly) $250 / yearDigital All-Access Subscription (2 Years) $450 every 2 yearsPurchase
Sign in to an existing account Cancel