Nammo UK chosen as main engine supplier for ESA's Argonaut lunar lander

"Nammo UK has been selected to supply the main engine for the European Space Agency's Argonaut lunar lander, a major element of the NASA-led Artemis programme that will return humans to the Moon in the early 2030s. The announcement was made at ESA's European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, where senior representatives from ESA, Nammo, Thales Alenia Space, OHB System AG and Thales Alenia Space UK took part in a formal signing ceremony."

"The Buckinghamshire-based company will provide its new RELIANCE bi-propellant engine - a 6kN throttleable rocket engine now under development at its Westcott Venture Park facility. RELIANCE will power Europe's first lunar lander, supporting the Artemis mission scheduled for 2031 and enabling the delivery of food, water, scientific instruments, communications infrastructure and power systems to the lunar surface. Robert Selby, Vice President of Nammo Space, said the contract represents "a major step forward" for both the RELIANCE engine and European propulsion capability."

Nammo UK will supply the RELIANCE bi-propellant main engine, a 6kN throttleable rocket motor developed at Westcott Venture Park, to power ESA's Argonaut lunar lander. RELIANCE will enable the lander to deliver cargo — food, water, scientific instruments, communications infrastructure and power systems — to the lunar surface for the Artemis mission scheduled in 2031. The contract reflects growth in UK space propulsion capability and Westcott's legacy of British rocket innovation. Argonaut will operate autonomously as a logistics vehicle supporting Europe's contribution to the NASA-led return of humans to the Moon. The RELIANCE engine draws design inspiration from Apollo-era engines and uses a pintle injector.

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