ESA to Adapt Ariane 6 for Nuclear-Powered Argonaut Missions

The European Space Agency expects to make specific safety adaptations to the Ariane 6 rocket for future launches of its Argonaut lunar landers that will carry a Radioisotope Power System. The modifications will not, however, be required for the spacecraft’s first mission. Argonaut is ESA’s planned heavy lunar lander that is designed to deliver up to 1,500 kilograms of cargo to the surface of the Moon. In emailed responses to questions from European Spaceflight, an ESA spokesperson confirmed that the Ariane 64 Block 2 is currently the baseline configuration for Argonaut missions, with some specific adaptations required for future missions carrying nuclear power systems.

Source: europeanspaceflight.com