Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales Group (67%) and Leonardo (33%), headquartered in Cannes, France. As a major European space manufacturer, it designs and delivers high-tech solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science, and orbital infrastructures. Thales Alenia Space is a key partner with agencies like ESA and NASA, contributing to programs like Galileo, Copernicus, the International Space Station (ISS), and the Lunar Gateway, and also partners with Siemens to explore new tools and methods for satellite testing.
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In 2025, ESA selected Thales Alenia Space Italy to lead the development of the first Argonaut unit, the Lunar Descent Element.
Thales Alenia Space Italy oversees the overall consortium responsible for the Argonaut project, including system integration, assembly, and structural tests.
Thales Alenia Space UK handles propulsion development and procures major propellant-related components for Argonaut.
The Exploration Company and Thales Alenia Space received Phase 1 contracts for the LEO Cargo Return Services initiative, with each awarded €25 million.
Thales Alenia Space's Italian subsidiary won an initial ESA contract to build a descent module for a lunar lander.
The COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation – Flight Model 3 (CSG-FM3) satellite has left Thales Alenia Space's facility in Rome and is en route to the launch base in Vandenberg, California.
Thales Alenia Space signed a contract with ESA in January 2025 for the design, development, and delivery of the Lunar Descent Element.
Thales Alenia Space in the UK will oversee the propulsion subsystem and procure its main components, such as propellant tanks and thrusters.
In January 2025, ESA awarded an €862 million contract to a Thales Alenia Space Italy-led consortium to develop the Lunar Descent Element (LDE).
Thales Alenia Space awarded contracts to Nammo, OHB System, and two of its own subsidiaries for the Argonaut lunar lander project.
The industrial consortium responsible for the Lunar Descent Element includes Thales Alenia Space in Italy, Thales Alenia Space in France, Thales Alenia Space in the UK, OHB System AG, and Nammo.
The consortium led by Thales Alenia Space represents a significant milestone in the Argonaut mission.
Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%).
Thales Alenia Space's consolidated revenues were €2.23 billion in 2024.
Thales Alenia Space has more than 8,100 employees in seven countries with 14 sites in Europe.
Thales Alenia Space has signed multiple contracts for the European Space Agency's Argonaut Lunar Descent Element.
Thales Alenia Space has finalized the core industrial team for the development of the European Space Agency’s Argonaut lunar lander.
Thales Alenia Space is the prime contractor and system integrator for the Lunar Descent Element.
On 20 November 2025, Thales Alenia Space announced it had signed multiple contracts with its core consortium partners for the Argonaut lunar lander development.
Thales Alenia Space in France will handle the design and development of the Data Handling Subsystem and procure the onboard computer elements.