NASA Losing VIPER Rover Defangs the Science from Planned Moon Landings
NASA Space Technology In July NASA announced its intent to erase its planned VIPER lunar rover from its roster of robotic explorers. Slated to launch in 2025, the rover’s primary job was to study water ice near the moon’s south pole. For the first time, scientists would measure from the lunar surface how much ice might be tucked beneath shadowed soils, and see how deep that ice goes and whether it comes in chunks or cubes or if it clings in minuscule amounts to tiny dust grains. As part of NASA’s Artemis program—the agency’s ambitious plan to return humans to the moon—VIPER’s observations were crucial for sustainable human space exploration.Delays and budgetary constraints got in the way. Initially the price tag for VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) was $433.5 million, but delays pushed its...
