ESA Signs Phase 2 Deal for MAGPIE, Europe's First Lunar Rover
September 2, 2026
The European Space Agency and ispace-Europe signed an agreement on September 1, 2026 to implement MAGPIE, set to be the first European rover to operate on the Moon. The rover will target the lunar south pole to prospect for water and other volatiles, providing knowledge ESA describes as critical for the next phase of lunar exploration. The signing took place during a ceremony at the Space for Inspiration event in Copenhagen, Denmark. MAGPIE, the Mission for Advanced Geophysics and Polar Ice Exp