NASA has ended its VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) project. This decision came after a thorough internal review. The project faced many challenges. These included cost increases, delays in the launch date, and risks of future cost growth.
VIPER was supposed to launch in late 2023. However, in 2022, NASA requested a delay to late 2024. This was to allow more time for preflight testing of the Astrobotic lander. Unfortunately, more delays pushed VIPER’s readiness date to September 2025. The Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) launch aboard Astrobotic’s Griffin lander was also delayed to a similar time3. Continuing VIPER would have increased costs, threatening other CLPS missions.
NASA has informed Congress about this decision. “With the CLPS programme, we are committed to studying and exploring the Moon for the benefit of humanity,” stated Nicola Fox, assistant administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. NASA plans to use the technology and work from VIPER in other missions. This will help save critical funds for their lunar projects.
NASA will disassemble VIPER and reuse its instruments and components for future Moon missions. “With the CLPS program, we are committed to studying and exploring the Moon for the benefit of humanity,” stated Nicola Fox, assistant administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. Interested parties should contact NASA by August 1.
Astrobotic will carry out Gryphon Mission One as per the terms of its NASA contract. The launch is scheduled for no earlier than fall 2025. The landing will showcase the Gryphon lander and its engines without the need of a VIPER. NASA will find other ways to achieve many of VIPER’s goals. They will verify the presence of ice at the lunar South Pole.
NASA has several missions planned to look for ice and other resources on the Moon over the next five years. One such mission is the Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1 (PRIME-1). It is scheduled to land at the South Pole in the fourth quarter of 2024. PRIME-1 will search for water ice and carry out a resource utilization demonstration. A drill and mass spectrometer will be used to measure the volatile content of subsurface materials.
Future instruments as part of NASA’s crewed missions will also help. For example, the Lunar Terrain Vehicle will allow for mobile observations of volatiles across the south polar region. Additionally, it will allow astronauts to conduct sample return operations in the permanently dark areas of the Moon.
The VIPER project was ambitious. It aimed to find water ice at the Moon’s south pole. This would have been crucial for future space missions. Water on the Moon could be used for drinking, making oxygen, and even fuel. Despite the project’s end, NASA remains committed to lunar exploration.
NASA first announced the VIPER mission in 2019. The project faced many challenges, including supply chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. These issues caused delays and increased costs. NASA has already spent $450 million on VIPER. The cancellation will save the agency at least $84 million. This is because they will no longer have to pay for tests and the rover’s operations.
The decision to cancel VIPER was not easy. However, it allows NASA to focus on other important missions. The agency is determined to continue exploring the Moon. They will use the lessons learned from VIPER to improve future missions.
While the VIPER project has ended, NASA’s commitment to lunar exploration remains strong. The agency will continue to search for water ice and other resources on the Moon. This will help pave the way for future human missions to the lunar surface.
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