Astronomy:Terrae Novae

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Short description: European Space Agency programme for human spaceflight and robotic space exploration
Argonaut lander on the Moon

Terrae Novae (Latin for 'New Worlds'), also known as European Exploration Envelope Programme (E3P) and Human and Robotic Exploration programme, is an optional programme of the European Space Agency (ESA)[1] responsible for developing and operating human spaceflight and related robotic space exploration missions to three space destinations: Low Earth orbit (LEO), the Moon, and Mars.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

History

In 2014, the ESA ministerial council adopted the "Resolution on Europe's space exploration strategy" addressing the three exploration destinations (LEO, the Moon, and Mars).[8][9][10][11] In response to this document, ESA established the European Exploration Envelope Programme (E3P) in 2016 to bring together all the agency's space exploration activities focused on these destinations in a single programme.[12][13][7][14] By incorporating the ExoMars programme as well as ESA's long-term human spaceflight ambitions, E3P effectively superseded the 2000s' Aurora programme.[15]

The programme was renamed Terrae Novae in 2021[7] and in 2022, the agency published the detailed "Terrae Novae 2030+ Strategy Roadmap".[7][3] The 2022 ESA ministerial council approved €2.7 billion for the next phase of Terrae Novae, including the Argonaut, a large robotic lunar lander.[16][17] In 2023, the programme launched a call for proposals for small missions focused on lunar exploration.[18][19][20]

During the 2020s, the Terrae Novae programme started developing two major space infrastructure projects for long term, sustainable robotic exploration of the Moon and Mars. The Argonaut landers will deliver heavy payloads to the lunar surface.[21] The LightShip interplanetary space tugs equipped with solar electric propulsion will deliver other spacecraft to Mars and then serve as communication, navigation, and weather satellites within the MARCONI constellation in high Mars orbit.[22] Additionally, the optional Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems (ARTES) programme (not part of Terrae Novae) started developing the Moonlight Initiative intended to place a constellation of communication and navigation satellites around the Moon.[23]

As of 2025, the programme included the European contribution to the International Space Station (ISS) with European astronauts joining both long term ISS expeditions and short commercial missions, the European Service Module (ESM) of NASA's lunar Orion spacecraft, and the uncrewed astrobiology-focused Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) studying the atmosphere of Mars,[24][2] as well as development of numerous future missions, spacecraft, and technologies.[25][26][27][28][29][30] At the ESA ministerial council in November 2025, the member states have committed €2.9 billion for the programme, 20% less than the previously projected €3.7 billion.[31]

See also

  • List of European Space Agency programmes and missions

References

  1. ↑ "Terrae Novae: from inspiring Europe's generations to supporting its economic growth". https://space-economy.esa.int/article/168/terrae-novae-from-inspiring-europes-generations-to-supporting-its-economic-growth. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Terrae Novae: Europe's exploration vision" (in en). https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/Terrae_Novae_Europe_s_exploration_vision. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Europe's Terrae Novae 2030+ Strategic Plan - New Space Economy" (in en-US). 2022-08-07. https://newspaceeconomy.ca/2022/08/07/europes-terrae-novae-2030-strategic-plan/. 
  4. ↑ Patrascu, Daniel (2023-05-26). "Terrae Novae Plan Shows How Important Europe Is for America's Space Expansion Strategy" (in en). https://www.autoevolution.com/news/terrae-novae-plan-shows-how-important-europe-is-for-america-s-space-expansion-strategy-215449.html. 
  5. ↑ "European Space Agency displays its ambitions for the 2030s" (in en). 2022-07-10. https://www.lemonde.fr/en/science/article/2022/07/10/the-european-space-agency-displays-its-ambitions-for-the-2030s_5989685_10.html. 
  6. ↑ "Space Exploration Technology Roadmap" (in en). https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/space-exploration-technology-roadmap/space-exploration-technology-roadmap--3. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Terrae Novae 2030+ Strategy Roadmap
  8. ↑ "ESA outlines future space projects - ADS Advance". https://www.adsadvance.co.uk/esa-outlines-future-space-projects.html. 
  9. ↑ "Introducing ESA's Space Exploration Strategy – the International Space Exploration Coordination Group" (in en-US). 2015-05-22. https://www.globalspaceexploration.org/?p=629. 
  10. ↑ "Media backgrounder for ESA Council at Ministerial Level" (in en). https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Ministerial_Council_2014/Media_backgrounder_for_ESA_Council_at_Ministerial_Level. 
  11. ↑ "We explore. You benefit.". https://youbenefit.spaceflight.esa.int/esa-space-exploration-strategy/. 
  12. ↑ "Europe at the Space Frontier – ESA's Vision for Space Exploration". https://www.aerosociety.com/news/europe-at-the-space-frontier-esa-s-vision-for-space-exploration/. 
  13. ↑ "A milestone in securing ESA's future role in the global exploration of space". SpaceRef. 15 June 2018. https://spacenews.com/a-milestone-in-securing-esaaeurs-future-role-in-the-global-exploration-of-space/. 
  14. ↑ "Germany invests 3.3 billion euro in European space exploration and becomes ESA's largest contributor". http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Germany_invests_3_3_billion_euro_in_European_space_exploration_and_becomes_ESAs_largest_contributor_999.html. 
  15. ↑ "The European Space Exploration Programme Aurora" (in en). https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/The_European_Space_Exploration_Programme_Aurora. 
  16. ↑ "Ministers back ESA's bold ambitions for space with record 17% rise" (in en). https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Corporate_news/Ministers_back_ESA_s_bold_ambitions_for_space_with_record_17_rise. 
  17. ↑ Isabelle (2022-11-24). "Les principales annonces du Conseil Ministériel de l'ESA 2022" (in fr-FR). https://reves-d-espace.com/principales-annonces-du-conseil-ministeriel-esa-2022/. 
  18. ↑ "Next stop Moon: ESA's exploration program Terrae Novae has launched a call for ideas - Finland has a broad opportunity for participation - Finnish Government" (in en-US). https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/60305973/next-stop-moon-esa-s-exploration-program-terrae-novae-has-launched-a-call-for-ideas-finland-has-a-broad-opportunity-for-participation. 
  19. ↑ SpaceRef (2023-09-29). "ESA Seeks Ideas For Small Lunar Missions" (in en-US). https://spacenews.com/esa-seeks-ideas-for-small-lunar-missions/. 
  20. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2023-09-29). "ESA Calls for Small Moon Mission Ideas" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-calls-for-small-moon-mission-ideas/. 
  21. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (31 January 2025). "ESA Awards €862M Argonaut Moon Lander Contract to Thales Alenia Space" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-awards-thales-alenia-space-e862m-argonaut-moon-lander-contract/. 
  22. ↑ B, Emily (18 August 2025). "ESA Increases Mars Ambitions with Mars Transportation Infrastructure" (in en-US). https://www.spacescout.info/2025/08/esa-increases-mars-ambitions-with-mars-transportation-infrastructure/. 
  23. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (13 March 2025). "Thales Alenia Space to Build ESA Moonlight Satellites for Telespazio" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/thales-alenia-space-to-build-esa-moonlight-satellites-for-telespazio/. 
  24. ↑ TERRAE NOVAE PROGRAMME
  25. ↑ "TERRAE NOVAE: Preparing for ESA Council at Ministerial level 2025". https://latviaspace.gov.lv/images/userfiles/CM25/06a_CM25_Industry_Event_Preparing_for_CM25.pdf. 
  26. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2024-10-18). "ESA Publishes Call for Telescope on the Far Side of the Moon" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-publishes-call-for-telescope-on-the-far-side-of-the-moon/. 
  27. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2024-02-29). "ESA to Begin Work on Mars Transfer Vehicle Mission Concept" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/esa-to-begin-work-on-mars-transfer-vehicle-mission-concept/. 
  28. ↑ Garay, Jorge (2025-11-20). "El módulo Argonaut es la apuesta de Europa en la batalla por la Luna" (in es-MX). WIRED. https://es.wired.com/articulos/el-modulo-argonaut-es-la-apuesta-de-europa-en-la-batalla-por-la-luna. Retrieved 2025-11-22. 
  29. ↑ Gutierrez, Peter (2023-10-04). "ESA Wants New Moon Missions to use Moonlight PNT Services" (in en-US). https://insidegnss.com/esa-wants-new-moon-missions-to-use-moonlight-pnt-services/. 
  30. ↑ "Europe wants to make space food out of thin air and astronaut pee" (in en). 2025-11-09. https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/europe-wants-to-make-space-food-out-of-thin-air-and-astronaut-pee. 
  31. ↑ Parsonson, Andrew (2025-11-27). "Exploration and the UK Emerge as the Biggest Losers of CM25" (in en-US). https://europeanspaceflight.com/exploration-and-the-uk-emerge-as-the-biggest-losers-of-cm25/. 



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