NASA Cancels Moon Mission, Vehicle Being Scrapped For Parts
NASA officially has canceled its Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) project which was intended to search for ice at the moon’s southern pole. It also would search for ice where the moon is in a perpetual shadow. The discovery of ice might support an eventual lunar base or possibly use an ingredient for rocket fuel.
NASA Ditches VIPER
NASA spent nearly $450 million to develop the rover for the lunar surface but would have to spend a lot more money to test it. Congress initially authorized a $433.5 million budget for the VIPER rover, which was supposed to begin ice exploration before the end of 2023.
Realizing the mission won’t happen in a timely manner and needing money for other projects, the space agency axed the VIPER program on July 17.
Whether searching for ice on the moon or on Mars, NASA has the same goal – studying the chemical compounds in the ice. Those compounds help tell the story of the lunar body or that of Mars when the space agency finally launches a mission to recover dozens of core samples currently being extracted by a rover on Mars.
The chemical compounds also could help tell scientists more about the formation of the solar system.
VIPER Was Too Much Money
Unfortunately, VIPER program delays greatly increased its costs, which ultimately led to its cancellation.
The VIPER rover would need a lunar lander to take it to the moon and to retrieve it after completing its mission. Delays in developing the VIPER rover and the commercial lander to deploy it has increased program costs beyond sustainable levels.
No Lunar Base Coming
NASA’s science mission directorate in June reviewed the program and its costs. The review showed it would cost an estimated $176 million more to go forward with the mission, which likely wouldn’t launch until toward the end of 2025.
The space agency determined it wasn’t worth it to move forward with the planned mission that might eventually support a lunar base.
NASA Dismantling VIPER
Engineers at the space agency eventually will dismantle the VIPER rover and use its components on other projects. Until then, NASA will allow commercial entities to use the rover if needed for interim project – so long as it doesn’t cost the space agency any money. SpaceX, Astrobotic Technology, and other commercial space entities might have a mission that would benefit from the VIPER rover and its technology.
Other Projects Facing Issues
The VIPER rover eventually no longer will exist except as parts and components on other space vehicles.
Astrobotic continues developing its Griffin lunar lander, which would appear to replace its Peregrine spacecraft, which recently failed to complete a lunar landing.
Instead, the craft tumbled out of control as it leaked the propellant needed to maintain stability while landing on the moon.
Money For Mars?
NASA also wants to use the estimated $176 million needed for VIPER program funding for other missions, such as the Mars sample return mission.
A rover currently is on Mars drilling, collecting, and packing dozens of core samples on the surface of Mars. The space agency scrapped its recent Mars sample return mission. It intends to create a new one that will cost less and happen sooner to collect the samples currently on Mars.
Source: Nature
