Terrae Novae
Terrae Novae, also known as European Exploration Envelope Programme and Human and Robotic Exploration programme, is an optional programme of the European Space Agency responsible for developing and operating human spaceflight and related robotic space exploration missions to three space destinations: Low Earth orbit, the Moon, and Mars.
History
In 2014, the ESA ministerial council adopted the "Resolution on Europe's space exploration strategy" addressing the three exploration destinations. In response to this document, ESA established the European Exploration Envelope Programme in 2016 to bring together all the agency's space exploration activities focused on these destinations in a single programme. By incorporating the ExoMars programme as well as ESA's long-term human spaceflight ambitions, E3P effectively superseded the 2000s' Aurora programme.The programme was renamed Terrae Novae in 2021 and in 2022, the agency published the detailed "Terrae Novae 2030+ Strategy Roadmap". The 2022 ESA ministerial council approved €2.7 billion for the next phase of Terrae Novae, including the Argonaut, a large robotic lunar lander. In 2023, the programme launched a call for proposals for small missions focused on lunar exploration.
During the 2020s, the Terrae Novae programme started developing two major space infrastructure projects for long term, sustainable robotic exploration of the Moon and Mars. The Argonaut landers will deliver heavy payloads to the lunar surface. The LightShip interplanetary space tugs equipped with solar electric propulsion will deliver other spacecraft to Mars and then serve as communication, navigation, and weather satellites within the MARCONI constellation in high Mars orbit. Additionally, the optional Advanced Research in Telecommunication Systems programme started developing the Moonlight Initiative intended to place a constellation of communication and navigation satellites around the Moon.
As of 2025, the programme included the European contribution to the International Space Station with European astronauts joining both long term ISS expeditions and short commercial missions, the European Service Module of NASA's lunar Orion spacecraft, and the uncrewed astrobiology-focused Trace Gas Orbiter studying the atmosphere of Mars, as well as development of numerous future missions, spacecraft, and technologies. At the ESA ministerial council in November 2025, the member states have committed €2.9 billion for the programme, 20% less than the previously projected €3.7 billion.