Key Findings
The Loader project, supported by ESA’s Technology Development Element, introduces a lunar crane designed to offload cargo from the Argonaut lander. While Argonaut can transport up to 1500 kg of cargo—including rovers, science instruments, and infrastructure building blocks—the Loader crane specifically handles loads up to 1000 kg. It extends the reach of cargo placement to six metres, surpassing the capabilities of standard robotic arms.
Technical Details
The crane is launched in a folded configuration on the lander’s payload deck and deploys upon reaching the lunar surface via a defined unfolding sequence and a dedicated cable-management system. To ensure stability on sloped terrain, the system incorporates a special levelling system to keep the crane vertical.
The mechanical assembly consists of a long arm with two joints and a dual-gripper system:
- A passive, spring-loaded gripper that locks into place without power.
- A battery-powered gripper capable of rotating the load for precise positioning.
Background and Context
Functionality and accuracy were validated using a scaled model at ESA’s Planetary Robotics Laboratory in the Netherlands. According to ESA robotics engineer Gunter Just, the scaled model can lift 30 kg under Earth gravity, which is equivalent to over 180 kg on the Moon. The final production crane will be more than twice the size of the demonstrator; combined with the Moon’s gravity being six times weaker than Earth’s, this allows for the one-tonne lift capacity.
Significance and Outlook
Daniel Useriu of COMOTI states that the demonstrator has met or exceeded initial expectations, providing a strong foundation for further refinement. The ability to place sensitive science instruments metres away from the lander is critical for ensuring that measurements remain uninterrupted by the lander’s presence.
Source: https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2026/10/Moon_crane_to_take_a_load_off_lunar_landers
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