NASA delays start of water-hunting Moon rover by a entire year

What just happened? NASA has delayed the start of the approaching Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (Viper) by a total yr in purchase to perform further ground screening of the Griffin landing module.

In 2020, NASA contracted Astrobotic of Pittsburgh to create and supply a rover to the Moon by late 2023. The rover will be tasked with looking the lunar surface for ice and other prospective sources, and will return facts to aid researchers study extra about the origin and distribution of water on the nearby satellite.

The unique contract was valued at $199.5 million, but with this most the latest extension and many others, it now totals $320.4 million.

The Griffin lunar lander will deliver the rover to the lunar surface as component of NASA's Industrial Lunar Payload Expert services (CLPS) initiative. CLPS is a essential cog in NASA's Artemis lunar exploration strategy, both equally of which will aid lay the basis for upcoming visits to the Moon and outside of.

Recognizing the site of worthwhile assets like drinking water could help NASA in deciding on future landing websites. Others could use information from Viper when developing underground bases or artificial gravity colonies, and area methods could make it less complicated for upcoming astronauts to journey to Mars.

Viper is the major and most advanced science payload to be delivered to the Moon as a result of CLPS, so they want to make confident all of their ducks are in a row. It's going to weigh close to 1,000 lbs and pack four science instruments able of analyzing soil samples. An integrated drill will make it possible for the rover to bore down virtually a few toes into the lunar surface.

The rover is envisioned to shell out about 100 days exploring the Moon's South Pole, but it'd all be for naught if the rover are not able to make it there safely and securely. NASA reported the extra tests will decrease the in general threat affiliated with shipping.

Viper is now on keep track of to be delivered to the South Pole of the Moon by November 2024. Fingers crossed that we will never see any a lot more delays (or funds hikes) amongst now and then.