Mission Control has selected Magellan Aerospace to join its team developing concepts for Canada’s Lunar Utility Rover. Working within a consortium of Canadian partners, Magellan will design subsystems for a vehicle described as a semi-autonomous, minibus-sized rover.
In July 2025, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) awarded $14.6 million in initial funding split across three companies—Mission Control, Canadensys Aerospace, and MDA Space—to conduct preparatory 18-month studies for the new rover. Mission Control was awarded a $4.7 million contract to execute this initial Phase 0 study, which includes defining mission tasks, advancing critical technologies, and establishing the groundwork for a full prototype.
These contracts represent the starting point of the Canadian government’s overall $1.35 billion investment in the utility rover, which specifically allocates $1.2 billion over 13 years to design and build the vehicle. The rover is intended to provide critical assistance to astronauts, perform logistics, and transport cargo on the lunar surface. To succeed, the vehicle must meet stringent environmental requirements, including a minimum 10-year lifespan and the ability to survive the two-week-long lunar night where temperatures drop to -200°C. The current target for launch is no earlier than 2033.
Magellan will leverage its space systems engineering heritage to develop concepts for the rover’s core subsystems. This work will encompass the vehicle’s power, thermal management, flight computer, and flight software. These systems are essential to ensuring the rover can operate within the Moon’s unpredictable and harsh environment during a long-duration mission.
“We’re proud to partner with Magellan Aerospace,” said Peter Visscher, Vice President of Rovers at Mission Control. “With our combined expertise and that of our other partners, we’ve assembled a world-class Canadian team to take on this mission. Together, we’re developing advanced systems designed to enable safe, reliable lunar surface logistics and support astronaut spacewalks—while showcasing the innovation and leadership of Canada’s space sector.”
Haydn Martin, Magellan’s Vice President of Business Development, Marketing and Contracts, emphasized the company’s long-standing industry presence. “With more than 60 years of experience in space programs, Magellan is excited to contribute its core subsystem technologies concepts to a Canadian-made utility rover,” he said. “We are proud to work alongside this growing network of partners delivering specialized technologies—from robotics and autonomy to core vehicle systems—demonstrating the strength of Canada’s space sector and its role in enabling the next era of lunar exploration.”