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NASA has ended development of the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) due to increasing project costs, a delayed launch date, and the risk of future budget increases, according to the space agency.
The goal is to search for ice and other potential resources on Earth’s moon to support NASA’s commitment to study the moon and help solve some of the solar system’s greatest mysteries.
The rover was initially scheduled to launch in late 2023, but in 2022 a delay was requested until late 2024 to allow for further pre-flight testing of the lander. Space Robotsdetail Euronews.
Since then, NASA has experienced further schedule delays and supply chain issues, pushing VIPER’s readiness date back to September 2025, although a CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) launch aboard Astrobotic’s Griffin lander has also been pushed back to a similar date.
“We are committed to studying and exploring the Moon for the benefit of humanity through the CLPS program,” said Nicola Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington.
Fox added that the agency plans to launch multiple missions over the next five years to search for ice and other resources on the moon.Our path forward will leverage the technology and work of VIPER while preserving critical funding to support our strong lunar portfolio.“,He said.
In the future, NASA plans to disassemble and reuse VIPER’s instruments and components for future lunar missions. Before disassembly, the agency will consider offers from U.S. industry and international partners by August 1 to use the existing VIPER rover system at no cost to the government. (I)
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