Argonaut mission patch

Argonaut's mission patch.

ESA’s Argonaut represents Europe’s autonomous and versatile access to the Moon, supporting international exploration endeavours on the lunar surface. From the start of the next decade, the spacecraft will launch on regular missions to the Moon. These could deliver infrastructures, scientific instruments, rovers, technology demonstrators and vital resources for astronauts on the lunar surface such as food, water and air.

Argonaut will be able to survive the harsh lunar night and day for five years, providing a key capability for sustainable lunar exploration.

Just as NASA with the Apollo and Artemis programmes, ESA drew inspiration from European mythology to name this lunar lander programme. Find out more about the symbolism behind the patch in our blog.