Máni Lunar Mapping Orbiter

Máni is the Danish-led lunar orbiter mission developed with the University of Copenhagen and an international consortium under ESA’s small-missions programme. The spacecraft will orbit over the Moon’s north and south poles and use high-resolution multi-angle imaging with shape-from-shading analysis to map topography, reflectance, grain size, and surface roughness at resolutions approaching 20 cm per pixel. The resulting maps are intended to improve landing-site selection, astronaut and rover route planning, lunar resource assessment, and Earth-albedo calibration. Space Inventor is building the satellite, and the mission is planned for launch by ESA in 2029.