NASA delays launch of water-looking Moon rover by a total 12 months

What just happened? NASA has delayed the launch of the approaching Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (Viper) by a full year in purchase to conduct added ground testing of the Griffin landing module.

In 2020, NASA contracted Astrobotic of Pittsburgh to establish and produce a rover to the Moon by late 2023. The rover will be tasked with browsing the lunar floor for ice and other prospective methods, and will return information to assistance scientists learn much more about the origin and distribution of water on the close by satellite.

The primary agreement was valued at $199.5 million, but with this most recent extension and some others, it now totals $320.4 million.

The Griffin lunar lander will deliver the rover to the lunar surface as part of NASA's Industrial Lunar Payload Solutions (CLPS) initiative. CLPS is a essential cog in NASA's Artemis lunar exploration program, equally of which will help lay the basis for potential visits to the Moon and further than.

Being aware of the place of precious resources like water could enable NASA in picking potential landing web sites. Others could use data from Viper when building underground bases or artificial gravity colonies, and area methods could make it less complicated for long run astronauts to travel to Mars.

Viper is the greatest and most innovative science payload to be sent to the Moon through CLPS, so they want to make absolutely sure all of their ducks are in a row. It'll weigh all over 1,000 lbs . and pack four science devices able of examining soil samples. An integrated drill will enable the rover to bore down approximately 3 toes into the lunar area.

The rover is envisioned to spend all around 100 days discovering the Moon's South Pole, but it'd all be for naught if the rover can't make it there securely. NASA mentioned the more screening will lessen the in general threat affiliated with shipping.

Viper is now on track to be shipped to the South Pole of the Moon by November 2024. Fingers crossed that we is not going to see any more delays (or spending plan hikes) amongst now and then.