Thales Alenia Space signed a contract valued at 862 million euros ($898.4 million) with the European Space Agency to develop a lander to ship cargo to the Moon. The aerospace company--a joint venture between French group Thales and Italy's Leonardo--said Thursday that as part of the deal it would build the Lunar Descent Element for ESA's Argonaut Mission.

ESA and the Argonauts The European Space Agency (ESA) has inked a deal worth €862 million with Thales Alenia Space to develop a lunar lander.… The lander, called Argonaut, is designed to carry cargo to the lunar surface and will consist of three parts: the Lunar Descent Element (LDE),