European Company Developing Permanent Lunar Station

The Franco-Italian space company Thales Alenia Space has signed a contract with the Italian Space Agency to develop the first permanent station on the Moon. The station, a self-propelled structure, has a lifespan of at least 10 years and is scheduled to launch in 2033 as part of NASA's Artemis program.

The goal of the Artemis program is to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon and develop technologies for manned missions to Mars. Italy and Greece are among the countries that have signed the 'Artemis Accords'.

Thales Alenia Space has been commissioned to design the 'Multi-Purpose Habitat' (MPH), which will house astronauts and conduct scientific studies. It will also be self-propelled to explore different regions of the Moon.

The first phase of the program will focus on developing technologies resistant to the lunar environment. In February, Thales Alenia Space secured a contract from ESA to develop the first European lunar lander, Argonaut, which is scheduled to launch in 2031.

Both European and American missions will focus on the Moon's south pole.