NASA has decided to cancel its plan to land a robotic rover on the Moon in search of ice and other potential resources, after already spending $450 million on the project. The rover, known as the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER), was intended to explore the lunar South Pole to gather data on ice deposits and create a resource map for future missions. However, due to increased costs, delayed launch dates, and concerns about budget constraints, NASA has opted to discontinue the VIPER project.
The decision to halt the VIPER project was announced on July 17 during a press call, with NASA citing financial considerations as the primary reason for the cancellation. The agency has already invested $450 million in the program, and by canceling it, NASA expects to save at least $84 million in development and operational costs.
Despite the cancellation of VIPER, NASA remains committed to exploring the Moon for ice and other resources through alternative methods. The agency plans to leverage the technology and research from the VIPER project to support its future lunar missions.
While the VIPER rover will not be sent to the Moon as originally planned, some of its instruments and components may still be utilized in other lunar missions. NASA will also explore the possibility of domestic and international partners using the existing VIPER system at their own expense.
In the meantime, Astrobotic, the company responsible for providing the lander for the VIPER mission, still intends to launch its Griffin lunar lander by the end of 2025. Despite the setback with the VIPER project, NASA remains dedicated to advancing its lunar exploration efforts and uncovering the mysteries of the Moon’s surface.
