Moon - Exploration Science https://explorationscience.esa.int/destination/moon/ Thu, 02 Jul 2026 09:47:04 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://explorationscience.esa.int/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ESA-favicon.png Moon - Exploration Science https://explorationscience.esa.int/destination/moon/ 32 32 European Lunar Symposium 2026 explores science priorities for Europe’s future lunar ambitions https://explorationscience.esa.int/els-2026/ Thu, 02 Jul 2026 09:36:28 +0000 https://explorationscience.esa.int/?p=2590 Held in the historic city of Nancy, France, from 22 to 26 June 2026, the European Lunar Symposium (ELS) 2026 brought together around 200 researchers, engineers, space professionals and students from across Europe and beyond to discuss the scientific and technological challenges of lunar exploration. The symposium featured plenary sessions, poster presentations, industry discussions and […]

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]]> Lunar Science Building Blocks: An Announcement of Opportunity for Scientific Instruments for Moon Exploration https://explorationscience.esa.int/research-opportunities/lunar-science-building-blocks-an-announcement-of-opportunity-for-scientific-instruments-for-moon-exploration/ Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:38:20 +0000 https://explorationscience.esa.int/?post_type=opportunity&p=2568 The post Lunar Science Building Blocks: An Announcement of Opportunity for Scientific Instruments for Moon Exploration appeared first on Exploration Science.

]]> Request for Information: Commercial Lunar Data Products for Exploration Science https://explorationscience.esa.int/research-opportunities/request-for-information-commercial-lunar-data-products-for-exploration-science/ Mon, 15 Jun 2026 09:35:42 +0000 https://explorationscience.esa.int/?post_type=opportunity&p=2567 The post Request for Information: Commercial Lunar Data Products for Exploration Science appeared first on Exploration Science.

]]> NovaMoon Workshop II https://explorationscience.esa.int/event/novamoon-workshop-ii/ Wed, 13 May 2026 07:20:12 +0000 https://explorationscience.esa.int/?post_type=event&p=2540 A High-Precision Lunar Surface Differential PNT, Timing and Selenodetic Reference Station The NovaMoon Workshop team event brings together engineers, scientists, and stakeholders involved in the development of Europe’s future lunar navigation, reference and timing station.  The workshop will address topics including lunar reference frames and ephemerides, VLBI and DDOR techniques, laser ranging, lunar timescales, optical clocks, […]

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]]> Commercial and International Missions https://explorationscience.esa.int/platforms/commercial-and-international-missions/ Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:19:24 +0000 https://explorationscience.esa.int/?post_type=platform&p=2407 ESA funds and leads the development of a variety of payloads and experiments that help us understand the Earth-Moon system and prepare for future exploration activities. If not part of an agency-led mission, these payloads hitch a ride to the Moon aboard spacecraft operated by international or commercial partners. In the rapidly changing landscape of […]

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]]> Moon Small Missions https://explorationscience.esa.int/platforms/moon-small-missions/ Wed, 11 Mar 2026 08:11:18 +0000 https://explorationscience.esa.int/?post_type=platform&p=2405 Small Missions are a range of ESA-funded missions that seek to answer specific scientific questions with small orbiters or surface assets. The somewhat limited scope and complexity of these activities enable shorter mission durations, ensuring a faster science return that can help address critical data gaps. The first batch of Small Missions was announced in […]

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]]> Request for Information: Commercial Flights and Operations for ESA Lunar Payloads https://explorationscience.esa.int/research-opportunities/request-for-information-commercial-flights-and-operations-for-esa-lunar-payloads/ Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:05:41 +0000 https://explorationscience.esa.int/?post_type=opportunity&p=2332 The post Request for Information: Commercial Flights and Operations for ESA Lunar Payloads appeared first on Exploration Science.

]]> Argonaut  https://explorationscience.esa.int/platforms/argonaut/ Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:05:22 +0000 https://explorationscience.esa.int/?post_type=platform&p=2212 Argonaut is Europe’s first multi-purpose logistics lander and will be able to carry up to 1500 kg of cargo to the lunar surface. Cargo complements can consist of hard-mounted, deployed, and mobile assets like rovers, and the lander will be able to sustain them on the surface for months to years. The first Argonaut will launch in 2030, with subsequent missions taking place every two to three years.   More information on […]

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]]> Argonaut Mission 1 Payloads Day https://explorationscience.esa.int/event/argonaut-mission-1-payloads-day/ Tue, 25 Nov 2025 11:41:26 +0000 https://explorationscience.esa.int/?post_type=event&p=2495 Argonaut Mission 1 is focused on demonstrating Europe’s end‑to‑end capability to land on the Moon’s south polar region (near side), with a target launch date in 2030. Argonaut as a campaign relies on a key transport capability, the Lunar Descent Element (LDE), that will be used to carry the “passenger”, that contains the payload such […]

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]]> Call for Interest to become a Member of the LuSEE-Night science team, through a partnership between ESA, NASA, and the US Department of Energy https://explorationscience.esa.int/research-opportunities/call-for-interest-to-become-a-member-of-the-lusee-night-science-team-through-a-partnership-between-esa-nasa-and-the-us-department-of-energy/ Wed, 12 Mar 2025 18:10:58 +0000 https://scispace.esa.int/?post_type=opportunity&p=1712 The post Call for Interest to become a Member of the LuSEE-Night science team, through a partnership between ESA, NASA, and the US Department of Energy appeared first on Exploration Science.

]]> CORA Topical Teams https://explorationscience.esa.int/research-opportunities/cora-topical-teams/ Tue, 14 Jan 2025 11:36:09 +0000 https://scispace.esa.int/?post_type=opportunity&p=1667 Through this Continuously Open Research Announcement Opportunity for GBF, ESA provides scientists the opportunity to set up dedicated Topical Teams.

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]]> AO-2024-lunarPF https://explorationscience.esa.int/research-opportunities/ao-2024-lunarpf/ Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:45:51 +0000 https://scispace.esa.int/?post_type=opportunity&p=1420 Through this Announcement of Opportunity, ESA is soliciting for research experiments to be implemented during a lunar gravity Parabolic Flight campaign.

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