ispace-Europe to build MAGPIE rover for lunar south pole ice

ispace-EUROPE won a €65 million ESA contract to build MAGPIE, Europe's first lunar polar ice exploration rover, targeting the Moon's south pole. The Phase 2 award covers remaining development, manufacturing, testing, surface operations and science data delivery. MAGPIE will investigate water ice and regolith at the lunar south pole, launching with ispace Mission 4 in 2029; Japan funds transportation through an ESA-JAXA collaboration. The contract follows MAGPIE's design review; Phase 2 began 1 July 2026. Sophia Casanova serves as principal investigator. ispace-EUROPE is a subsidiary of Japan-based ispace.