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{{italic title}}
{{italic title}}
{{Short description|Planned NASA lunar rover}}
{{Short description|Canceled NASA lunar rover}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
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| image_caption = Artist's impression of ''VIPER'' operating in darkness.
| image_caption = Artist's impression of ''VIPER'' operating in darkness.
| image_size = 300px
| image_size = 300px

| mission_type = Exploration, resource prospecting
| mission_type = Exploration, resource prospecting
| operator = [[NASA]]
| operator = [[NASA]]
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| SATCAT =
| SATCAT =
| website = https://www.nasa.gov/viper
| website = https://www.nasa.gov/viper
| mission_duration = 100 days (planned) <ref name='Crunch Oct2019'/><ref name='Loff Oct2019'/><ref name='Bartells Oct2019'/>
| mission_duration = 100 days (planned)<ref name='Crunch Oct2019'/><ref name='Loff Oct2019'/><ref name='Bartells Oct2019'/>
| distance_travelled =
| distance_travelled =

| spacecraft_type = Robotic [[lunar rover]]
| spacecraft_type = Robotic [[lunar rover]]
| manufacturer = [[Ames Research Center|NASA Ames Research Center]]
| manufacturer = [[Ames Research Center|NASA Ames Research Center]]
| dry_mass = {{cvt|430|kg}}<ref name="colaprete-20200817">{{cite web|last=Colaprete|first=Anthony|url=https://science.nasa.gov/science-pink/s3fs-public/atoms/files/09-Colaprete-VIPER%20Overview%20for%20PAC%2008172020.pdf |title=VIPER: A lunar water reconnaissance mission|publisher=NASA|date=17 August 2020|access-date=25 August 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
| dry_mass = {{cvt|430|kg}}<ref name="colaprete-20200817">{{cite web|last=Colaprete|first=Anthony|url=https://science.nasa.gov/science-pink/s3fs-public/atoms/files/09-Colaprete-VIPER%20Overview%20for%20PAC%2008172020.pdf |title=VIPER: A lunar water reconnaissance mission|publisher=NASA|date=17 August 2020|access-date=25 August 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
| payload_mass =
| payload_mass =
| dimensions = {{cvt|2.45|m}} in height,<br/>{{cvt|1.53|m}} in length and width <ref name="NASA20210224">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ames/nasas-next-lunar-rover-progresses-toward-2023-launch|title=NASA's Next Lunar Rover Progresses Toward 2023 Launch|publisher=NASA|date=24 February 2021|access-date=5 March 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
| dimensions = {{cvt|2.45|m}} in height,<br/>{{cvt|1.53|m}} in length and width<ref name="NASA20210224">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ames/nasas-next-lunar-rover-progresses-toward-2023-launch|title=NASA's Next Lunar Rover Progresses Toward 2023 Launch|publisher=NASA|date=24 February 2021|access-date=5 March 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
| power =
| power = <!-- [[watt]]s -->
| launch_date = September 2025 (Canceled July 2024)

| launch_date = November 2024 (planned)<ref name="nasa-20220718">{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-replans-clps-delivery-of-viper-to-2024-to-reduce-risk |title=NASA Replans CLPS Delivery of VIPER to 2024 to Reduce Risk |work=[[NASA]] |date=18 July 2022 |access-date=18 July 2022}}</ref>
| launch_rocket = [[Falcon Heavy]]
| launch_rocket = [[Falcon Heavy]]
| launch_site = [[Kennedy Space Center]], [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|LC-39A]]
| launch_site = [[Kennedy Space Center]], [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A|LC-39A]]
| launch_contractor = [[SpaceX]]
| launch_contractor = [[SpaceX]]
⚫
| interplanetary = {{Infobox spaceflight/IP

⚫
| interplanetary = {{Infobox spaceflight/IP
| type = rover
| type = rover
| object = [[Moon]]
| object = [[Moon]]
| arrival_date = November 2024
| arrival_date = September 2025 (canceled)<ref name="nasa-20240717"/>
| location = [[Mons Mouton]], [[Lunar south pole|South pole]] region <ref name="Wright Ladd Colaprete Ladd 2021 s386">{{cite web | last=Wright | first=Ernie | last2=Ladd | first2=David | last3=Colaprete | first3=Anthony | last4=Ladd | first4=David | title=NASA Scientific Visualization Studio | website=SVS | date=2021-09-20 | url=https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4937 | access-date=2023-10-27}}</ref><ref name='Loff Oct2019'/>
| location = [[Mons Mouton]], [[Lunar south pole|South pole]] region<ref name="Wright Ladd Colaprete Ladd 2021 s386"/><ref name='Loff Oct2019'/>
}}
}}

| instruments = Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS)<br/>Near InfraRed Volatiles Spectrometer System (NIRVSS)<br/>The Regolith and Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrain (TRIDENT)<br/>Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSolo)
| instruments = Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS)<br/>Near InfraRed Volatiles Spectrometer System (NIRVSS)<br/>The Regolith and Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrain (TRIDENT)<br/>Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSolo)

| insignia =
| insignia =
| insignia_caption =
| insignia_caption =
| insignia_size = 200px
| insignia_size = 200px

| programme = [[Commercial Lunar Payload Services]] (CLPS)
| programme = [[Commercial Lunar Payload Services]] (CLPS)
| previous_mission = [[Firefly Aerospace#Blue Ghost lunar lander|''Blue Ghost'']]
| previous_mission = [[Firefly Aerospace#Blue Ghost lunar lander|''Blue Ghost'']]
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}}
}}


'''''VIPER''''' ('''Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover''') is a [[lunar rover]] developed by [[NASA]] ([[Ames Research Center]]), and currently planned to be delivered to the surface of the Moon in November 2024.<ref name="nasa-20220718" /> The rover will be tasked with prospecting for [[lunar resources]] in permanently shadowed areas in the [[lunar south pole]] region, especially by mapping the distribution and concentration of [[Lunar water|water ice]]. The mission builds on a previous NASA rover concept called [[Resource Prospector]], which was cancelled in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bartels|first=Meghan|url=https://www.space.com/viper-nasa-moon-rover.html|title=Moon VIPER: NASA Wants to Send a Water-Sniffing Rover to the Lunar South Pole in 2022|publisher=Space.com|date=16 October 2019|access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref>
'''''VIPER''''' ('''Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover''') was a [[lunar rover]] project developed by [[NASA]] ([[Ames Research Center]]) until cancelled in 2024. The rover would have been tasked with prospecting for [[lunar resources]] in permanently shadowed areas in the [[lunar south pole]] region, especially by mapping the distribution and concentration of [[Lunar water|water ice]]. The mission built on a previous NASA rover concept, the [[Resource Prospector]], which had been cancelled in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bartels|first=Meghan|url=https://www.space.com/viper-nasa-moon-rover.html|title=Moon VIPER: NASA Wants to Send a Water-Sniffing Rover to the Lunar South Pole in 2022|publisher=Space.com|date=16 October 2019|access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref>


On 11 June 2020, NASA awarded [[Astrobotic Technology]] of [[Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]], US$199.5 million to launch ''VIPER'' to the lunar south pole. ''VIPER'' will be carried aboard Astrobotic's [[Griffin (spacecraft)|Griffin lander]] as part of NASA's [[Commercial Lunar Payload Services]] (CLPS) initiative. Astrobotic is responsible for end-to-end services for delivery of ''VIPER'', including integration with its Griffin lander, launch from [[Earth]], and landing on the [[Moon]].<ref name="VIPER">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-astrobotic-to-fly-water-hunting-rover-to-the-moon|title=NASA Selects Astrobotic to Fly Water-Hunting Rover to the Moon|publisher=NASA|date=11 June 2020|access-date=14 June 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
''VIPER'' was to be carried aboard Astrobotic's [[Griffin (spacecraft)|Griffin lander]] as part of NASA's [[Commercial Lunar Payload Services]] (CLPS) initiative.<ref name="VIPER">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-selects-astrobotic-to-fly-water-hunting-rover-to-the-moon|title=NASA Selects Astrobotic to Fly Water-Hunting Rover to the Moon|publisher=NASA|date=11 June 2020|access-date=14 June 2020}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>


== Cancellation in 2024 - reasons ==
⚫
[[File:Viper-ACD20-0047.jpg|thumb|Artist's conception of the VIPER rover on the Moon (Image courtesy of NASA Ames Research Center)]]
[[File:VIPER assembled when canceled.webp|thumb|NASA's VIPER assembled at Johnson Space Center, when it was canceled]]
Amidst cost growth and delays to readiness of the rover and the Griffin lander, the VIPER program was ended in July 2024, with the rover planned to be disassembled and its instruments and components reused for other lunar missions. Before commencing disassembly, NASA announced they would consider "expressions of interest" from industry to use the "VIPER rover system at no cost to the government."<ref name="nasa-20240717">{{Cite web |title=NASA Ends VIPER Project, Continues Moon Exploration - NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-ends-viper-project-continues-moon-exploration/ |access-date=2024-07-17 |language=en-US}}</ref> At the time of the announcement NASA expected to save $84 million by canceling the mission, which has cost $450 million so far.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tingley |first=Brett |date=2024-07-17 |title=NASA cancels $450 million VIPER moon rover due to budget concerns |url=https://www.space.com/nasa-cancels-viper-moon-rover-budget |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240717234748/https://www.space.com/nasa-cancels-viper-moon-rover-budget |archive-date=2024-07-17 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Space.com |language=en}}</ref> The budgeted cost to build VIPER was $433.5 million, with $235.6 million budgeted to launch the lander.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=Alan |date=2024-07-17 |title=NASA Stops Work on VIPER Moon Rover, Citing Cost and Schedule Issues |url=https://www.universetoday.com/167805/nasa-stops-work-on-viper-moon-rover/ |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240717235335/https://www.universetoday.com/167805/nasa-stops-work-on-viper-moon-rover/ |archive-date=2024-07-17 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Universe Today |language=en-US}}</ref> The agency still plans to support the Griffin lander to arrive on the Moon in fall of 2025, though with a mass simulator in place of the VIPER rover.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hd2ES2H6UQc |title=Exploration Science Program Update (July 17, 2024) |date=2024-07-17 |last=NASA Video |type=Press Conference |language=en |access-date=2024-07-18 |via=YouTube}}</ref> NASA expects the primary objectives of VIPER to be fulfilled by an array of other missions planned for the next several years.<ref name=":0" />


⚫
[[File:Viper-ACD20-0047.jpg|thumb|Artist's conception of the ''VIPER'' rover on the Moon (Image courtesy of NASA Ames Research Center)]]


== Overview ==
== Objectives - Purpose ==
[[File:Water Detected at High Latitudes on the Moon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Orbital survey of the Moon taken by the [[Moon Mineralogy Mapper]] instrument on [[India]]'s [[Chandrayaan-1]] orbiter. Blue shows the spectral signature of [[hydroxide]], green shows the brightness of the surface as measured by reflected infrared radiation from the [[Sun]] and red shows a mineral called [[pyroxene]].]]
[[File:Water Detected at High Latitudes on the Moon.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Orbital survey of the Moon taken by the [[Moon Mineralogy Mapper]] instrument on [[India]]'s [[Chandrayaan-1]] orbiter. Blue shows the spectral signature of [[hydroxide]], green shows the brightness of the surface as measured by reflected infrared radiation from the [[Sun]] and red shows a mineral called [[pyroxene]].]]
[[File:The image shows the distribution of surface ice at the Moon's south pole (left) and north pole (right).webp|thumb|upright=1.0|right|The image shows the distribution of surface ice at the Moon's south pole (left) and north pole (right) as viewed by NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M<sup>3</sup>) spectrometer onboard India's Chandrayaan-1 orbiter.]]
[[File:The image shows the distribution of surface ice at the Moon's south pole (left) and north pole (right).webp|thumb|upright=1.0|right|The image shows the distribution of surface ice at the Moon's south pole (left) and north pole (right) as viewed by NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M<sup>3</sup>) spectrometer onboard India's Chandrayaan-1 orbiter.]]


The ''VIPER'' rover, currently in development, will have a size similar to a golf cart (around 1.4 × 1.4 × 2 m), and will be tasked with prospecting for [[lunar resources]], especially for [[lunar water|water ice]], mapping its distribution, and measuring its depth and purity.<ref name='Crunch Oct2019'>[https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/25/nasas-viper-lunar-rover-will-hunt-water-on-the-moon-in-2022 NASA's VIPER lunar rover will hunt water on the Moon in 2022] Devin Coldewey, ''The Crunch'' 25 October 2019 Quote: "VIPER is a limited-time mission; operating at the poles means there's no sunlight to harvest with solar panels, so the rover will carry all the power it needs to last 100 days there"</ref><ref name='Loff Oct2019'/> The water distribution and form must be better understood before it can be evaluated as a potential resource within any evolvable lunar or Mars campaign.<ref name='Resource Prospector'/>
The ''VIPER'' rover has a size similar to a golf cart (around 1.4 × 1.4 × 2 m), and would have been tasked with prospecting for [[lunar resources]], especially for [[lunar water|water ice]], mapping its distribution, and measuring its depth and purity.<ref name="Crunch Oct2019">{{cite web |last=Coldewey |first=Devin |date=25 October 2019 |title=NASA's ''VIPER'' lunar rover will hunt water on the Moon in 2022 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/25/nasas-viper-lunar-rover-will-hunt-water-on-the-moon-in-2022 |website=TechCrunch |quote=VIPER is a limited-time mission; operating at the poles means there's no sunlight to harvest with solar panels, so the rover will carry all the power it needs to last 100 days there.}}</ref><ref name='Loff Oct2019'/> The water distribution and form must be better understood before it can be evaluated as a potential resource within any evolvable lunar or Mars campaign.<ref name='Resource Prospector'/>


⚫
[[File:Proposed landing site of VIPER.gif|thumb|Proposed landing site of the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (''VIPER'')]]
⚫
The ''VIPER'' rover is part of the Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program managed by the [[Science Mission Directorate]] at [[NASA Headquarters]], and it is meant to support the crewed [[Artemis program]].<ref name='Loff Oct2019'/> NASA's [[Ames Research Center]] is managing the rover project. The hardware for the rover is being designed by the [[Johnson Space Center]], while the instruments are provided by Ames, Kennedy, and [[Honeybee Robotics]].<ref name='Loff Oct2019'/> The project manager is Daniel Andrews,<ref name='Loff Oct2019'/><ref name='EnGadget Oct2019'>[https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/26/nasa-viper-rover/ NASA's VIPER rover will look for water ice on the Moon] Mariella Moon, ENGADGET, 26 October 2019</ref> and the project scientist is Anthony Colaprete, who is implementing the technology developed for the now cancelled [[Resource Prospector (rover)|Resource Prospector rover]].<ref>[https://spacenews.com/nasa-confirms-plans-to-send-prospecting-rover-to-the-moon/NASA confirms plans to send prospecting rover to the moon.] Jeff Foust, ''SpaceNews'' 27 October 2019</ref> The estimated cost of the mission is US$250 million in October 2019.<ref name='Bartells Oct2019'/> NASA said on 3 March 2021 that the new lifecycle cost for the mission is US$433.5 million.<ref name="SN20210303">{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/viper-lunar-rover-mission-cost-increases/|title=VIPER lunar rover mission cost increases|publisher=SpaceNews |date=3 March 2021|access-date=5 March 2021}}</ref>


⚫
The ''VIPER'' rover was to operate on the western edge of [[Nobile_(crater)|Nobile crater]] on [[Mons Mouton]] in the Moon's [[lunar south pole|south pole]] region.<ref name="Wright Ladd Colaprete Ladd 2021 s386">{{cite web | last1=Wright | first1=Ernie | last2=Ladd | first2=David | last3=Colaprete | first3=Anthony | last4=Ladd | first4=David | title=NASA Scientific Visualization Studio | website=SVS | date=2021-09-20 | url=https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/4937 | access-date=2023-10-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=NASA's Artemis Rover to Land Near Nobile Region of Moon's South Pole|date=20 September 2021 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-artemis-rover-to-land-near-nobile-region-of-moon-s-south-pole|publisher=NASA|access-date=20 September 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The first ever rover with its own lighting source,<ref name="nasa-20220718">{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-replans-clps-delivery-of-viper-to-2024-to-reduce-risk |title=NASA Replans CLPS Delivery of VIPER to 2024 to Reduce Risk |work=[[NASA]] |date=18 July 2022 |access-date=18 July 2022 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240717200609/https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-ends-viper-project-continues-moon-exploration/ |archive-date=2024-07-17 |url-status=live}}</ref> it was planned to rove several kilometers, collecting data on different kinds of soil environments affected by light and temperature—those in complete darkness, occasional light and in constant sunlight.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://phys.org/news/2019-10-viper-lunar-rover-ice-moon.html |title=New VIPER lunar rover to map water ice on the moon |first1=Grey |last1=Hautaluoma |first2=Alana |last2=Johnson |website=PhysOrg |date=28 October 2019}}</ref><ref name='Loff Oct2019'/> In permanently shadowed locations, it would operate on battery power alone and would not be able to recharge them until it drives to a sunlit area. Its total operation time was planned to be 100 Earth days.<ref name='Crunch Oct2019'/><ref name='Loff Oct2019'/><ref name='Bartells Oct2019'>{{cite web|last=Bartels|first=Meghan|url=https://www.space.com/nasa-viper-moon-rover-launching-in-2022.html|title=NASA Will Launch a Lunar VIPER to Hunt Moon Water in 2022 |publisher=Space.com|date=25 October 2019|access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref>
⚫
[[File:Proposed landing site of VIPER.gif|thumb|Proposed landing site of Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER]]


== History - Project management ==
⚫
The ''VIPER'' rover will operate on the western edge of [[Nobile_(crater)|Nobile crater]] on [[Mons Mouton]] in the Moon's [[lunar south pole|south pole]] region.<ref name="Wright Ladd Colaprete Ladd 2021 s386"/><ref>{{cite web|title=NASA's Artemis Rover to Land Near Nobile Region of Moon's South Pole|date=20 September 2021 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-s-artemis-rover-to-land-near-nobile-region-of-moon-s-south-pole|publisher=NASA|access-date=20 September 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> It is planned to rove several kilometers, collecting data on different kinds of soil environments affected by light and temperature — those in complete darkness, occasional light and in constant sunlight.<ref>[https://phys.org/news/2019-10-viper-lunar-rover-ice-moon.html New VIPER lunar rover to map water ice on the moon] Grey Hautaluoma and Alana Johnson, Published by PhysOrg on 28 October 2019</ref><ref name='Loff Oct2019'/> Once it enters a permanently shadowed location, it will operate on battery power alone and will not be able to recharge them until it drives to a sunlit area. Its total operation time will be 100 Earth days.<ref name='Crunch Oct2019'/><ref name='Loff Oct2019'/><ref name='Bartells Oct2019'>{{cite web|last=Bartels|first=Meghan|url=https://www.space.com/nasa-viper-moon-rover-launching-in-2022.html|title=NASA Will Launch a Lunar VIPER to Hunt Moon Water in 2022 |publisher=Space.com|date=25 October 2019|access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref>
⚫
The ''VIPER'' rover was part of the Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program managed by the [[Science Mission Directorate]] at [[NASA Headquarters]], and was meant to support the crewed [[Artemis program]].<ref name='Loff Oct2019'/> NASA's [[Ames Research Center]] was managing the rover project. The hardware for the rover was designed by the [[Johnson Space Center]], while the instruments were provided by Ames, Kennedy, and [[Honeybee Robotics]].<ref name='Loff Oct2019'/> The project manager was Daniel Andrews,<ref name='Loff Oct2019'/><ref name='EnGadget Oct2019'>{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2019/10/26/nasa-viper-rover/ |title=NASA's VIPER rover will look for water ice on the Moon |first=Mariella |last=Moon |website=ENGADGET |date=26 October 2019}}</ref> and the project scientist was Anthony Colaprete, who was implementing the technology developed for the now cancelled [[Resource Prospector (rover)|Resource Prospector rover]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-confirms-plans-to-send-prospecting-rover-to-the-moon/ |title=NASA confirms plans to send prospecting rover to the moon |first=Jeff |last=Foust |website=SpaceNews |date=27 October 2019}}</ref> The estimated cost of the mission was US$250 million in October 2019.<ref name='Bartells Oct2019'/> NASA said on 3 March 2021 that the new lifecycle cost for the mission was US$433.5 million.<ref name="SN20210303">{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/viper-lunar-rover-mission-cost-increases/|title=VIPER lunar rover mission cost increases|publisher=SpaceNews |date=3 March 2021|access-date=5 March 2021}}</ref>


Both the launcher and the lander were competitively provided through [[Commercial Lunar Payload Services]] (CLPS) contractors, with Astrobotic providing the Griffin lander to deliver the rover, and SpaceX providing the Falcon Heavy launch vehicle.<ref>{{cite web|last=Foust|first=Jeff|url=https://spacenews.com/astrobotic-selects-falcon-heavy-to-launch-nasas-viper-lunar-rover/|title=Astrobotic selects Falcon Heavy to launch NASA's VIPER lunar rover|publisher=SpaceNews|date=13 April 2021|access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref> NASA is aiming to land the rover in November 2024.<ref name="nasa-20220718" />
Both the launcher and the lander were competitively provided through [[Commercial Lunar Payload Services]] (CLPS) contractors, with Astrobotic providing the Griffin lander to deliver the rover, and SpaceX providing the Falcon Heavy launch vehicle.<ref>{{cite web|last=Foust|first=Jeff|url=https://spacenews.com/astrobotic-selects-falcon-heavy-to-launch-nasas-viper-lunar-rover/|title=Astrobotic selects Falcon Heavy to launch NASA's VIPER lunar rover|publisher=SpaceNews|date=13 April 2021|access-date=13 April 2021}}</ref> NASA was aiming to land the rover in September 2025 until the mission was canceled on 17 July 2024.<ref name="nasa-20240717" /><ref>{{cite news |last1=Harris |first1=Rainier |title=NASA Cancels Rover Mission Set to Search for Ice on Moon |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-07-17/nasa-cancels-rover-mission-set-to-search-for-ice-on-moon?srnd=homepage-americas |access-date=18 July 2024 |work=Bloomberg.com |date=17 July 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

== Rover assembly and preparation for launch ==
In February 2024 the final instrument, the TRIDENT drill, was installed into the rover.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.moondaily.com/reports/TRIDENT_Drill_Integrated_into_NASAs_VIPER_Rover_Completing_its_Scientific_Arsenal_999.html |title=TRIDENT Drill Integrated into NASA's VIPER Rover, Completing its Scientific Arsenal |date=Feb 2024}}</ref> Later on 28 February 2024, VIPER Project Manager Dan Andrews announced that all the rover's scientific instruments were installed, and that it was more than 80% built.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Robert |last=Lea |date=2024-03-03 |title=NASA's ice-hunting VIPER moon rover getting ready to slither to the launch pad |url=https://www.space.com/nasa-viper-moon-rover-flight-instruments-installed |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Space.com |language=en}}</ref> Further progress was reported in April 2024, remaining on track for launch later in the year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NASA's VIPER Gets Its Head and Neck – NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasas-viper-gets-its-head-and-neck/ |access-date=2024-04-18 |language=en-US}}</ref> The rover moved to the environmental testing phase in May.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-05-14 |title=Mission Manager Update: VIPER Rover Approved to Move into Environmental Testing! - NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/missions/viper/mission-manager-update-viper-rover-approved-to-move-into-environmental-testing/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |language=en-US}}</ref>


== Science background ==
== Science background ==
{{main|Lunar water|Lunar resources}}
{{main|Lunar water|Lunar resources}}


Data obtained by [[Lunar Prospector]],<ref name="nasa2"/> [[Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter]], [[Chandrayaan-1]], and the [[Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite]], revealed that [[lunar water]] is present in the form of ice near the lunar poles, especially within permanently shadowed craters in the [[Lunar south pole|south pole region]],<ref name="Soderman">[https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/nasa-looking-to-mine-water-on-the-moon-and-mars/ NASA Looking to Mine Water on the Moon and Mars] By Soderman NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute {{PD-notice}}</ref><ref name="NeishEtAl11" /> and present in the form of hydrated minerals in other high-latitude locations.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Pieters|first1=C. M. |last2=Goswami|first2=J. N.|last3=Clark|first3=R. N.|last4=Annadurai|first4=M.|last5=Boardman|first5=J.|last6=Buratti|first6=B.|last7=Combe|first7=J.-P.|last8=Dyar|first8=M. D.|last9=Green|first9=R.|last10=Head |first10=J. W.|last11=Hibbitts|first11=C.|last12=Hicks|first12=M.|last13=Isaacson|first13=P.|last14=Klima|first14=R.|last15=Kramer|first15=G.|last16=Kumar|first16=S.|last17=Livo|first17=E.|last18=Lundeen
Data obtained by [[Lunar Prospector]],<ref name="nasa2"/> [[Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter]], [[Chandrayaan-1]], and the [[Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite]], revealed that [[lunar water]] is present in the form of ice near the lunar poles, especially within permanently shadowed craters in the [[Lunar south pole|south pole region]],<ref name="Soderman">{{cite web |url=https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/nasa-looking-to-mine-water-on-the-moon-and-mars/ |title=NASA Looking to Mine Water on the Moon and Mars |website= Soderman NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute}}{{PD-notice}}</ref><ref name="NeishEtAl11" /> and present in the form of hydrated minerals in other high-latitude locations.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Pieters|first1=C. M. |last2=Goswami|first2=J. N.|last3=Clark|first3=R. N.|last4=Annadurai|first4=M.|last5=Boardman|first5=J.|last6=Buratti|first6=B.|last7=Combe|first7=J.-P.|last8=Dyar|first8=M. D.|last9=Green|first9=R.|last10=Head |first10=J. W.|last11=Hibbitts|first11=C.|last12=Hicks|first12=M.|last13=Isaacson|first13=P.|last14=Klima|first14=R.|last15=Kramer|first15=G.|last16=Kumar|first16=S.|last17=Livo|first17=E.|last18=Lundeen
|first18=S.|last19=Malaret|first19=E.|last20=McCord|first20=T.|last21=Mustard|first21=J.|last22=Nettles|first22=J.|last23=Petro|first23=N.|last24=Runyon|first24=C.|last25=Staid|first25=M.|last26=Sunshine
|first18=S.|last19=Malaret|first19=E.|last20=McCord|first20=T.|last21=Mustard|first21=J.|last22=Nettles|first22=J.|last23=Petro|first23=N.|last24=Runyon|first24=C.|last25=Staid|first25=M.|last26=Sunshine
|first26=J.|last27=Taylor|last28=Tompkins|first28=S.|first29=P.|last29=Varanasi|first27=L. A.|doi=10.1126/science.1178658|title=Character and Spatial Distribution of OH/H2O on the Surface of the Moon Seen by M3 on Chandrayaan-1|journal=Science|volume=326|issue=5952|pages=568–572|year=2009|pmid=19779151|bibcode=2009Sci...326..568P|s2cid=447133 |doi-access=free}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
|first26=J.|last27=Taylor|last28=Tompkins|first28=S.|first29=P.|last29=Varanasi|first27=L. A.|doi=10.1126/science.1178658|title=Character and Spatial Distribution of OH/H2O on the Surface of the Moon Seen by M3 on Chandrayaan-1|journal=Science|volume=326|issue=5952|pages=568–572|year=2009|pmid=19779151|bibcode=2009Sci...326..568P|s2cid=447133 |doi-access=free}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>


Water may have been delivered to the Moon over geological timescales by the regular bombardment of water-bearing [[comet]]s, [[asteroid]]s and [[meteoroid]]s,<ref>Elston, D.P. (1968) "Character and Geologic Habitat of Potential Deposits of Water, Carbon and Rare Gases on the Moon", Geological Problems in Lunar and Planetary Research, Proceedings of AAS/IAP Symposium, AAS Science and Technology Series, Supplement to Advances in the Astronautical Sciences, p. 441</ref> or continuously produced ''in situ'' by the hydrogen ions ([[proton]]s) of the [[solar wind]] impacting oxygen-bearing minerals.<ref name="nasa2">{{cite web|url=http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/project/faq.htm#18|title=NASA – Lunar Prospector|publisher=lunar.arc.nasa.gov|access-date=2015-05-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914115221/http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/project/faq.htm#18|archive-date=2016-09-14}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The physical form of the water ice is unknown, but some studies suggest that it is unlikely to be present in the form of thick, pure ice deposits, and may be thin coating on soil grains.<ref name='Jozwiak 2019'>"Mini-RF Monostatic Radar Observations of Permanently Shadowed Crater Floors" L. M. Jozwiak, G. W. Patterson, R. Perkins. Lunar ISRU 2019: Developing a New Space Economy Through Lunar Resources and Their Utilization July 15–17, 2019, Columbia, Maryland</ref><ref name="NozetteEtAl10">{{cite journal|title=The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Miniature Radio Frequency (Mini-RF) Technology Demonstration|last1=Nozette|first1=Stewart|last2=Spudis|first2=Paul|last3=Bussey|first3=Ben|last4=Jensen|first4=Robert|last5=Raney|first5=Keith|journal=Space Science Reviews |date=January 2010|volume=150|issue=1–4|pages=285–302|bibcode=2010SSRv..150..285N|doi=10.1007/s11214-009-9607-5|s2cid=54041415 }}</ref><ref name="NeishEtAl11">{{cite journal|title=The nature of lunar volatiles as revealed by Mini-RF observations of the LCROSS impact site|journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets|date=13 January 2011|first=C. D.|last=Neish|author2=D. B. J. Bussey|author3=P. Spudis|author4=W. Marshall|author5=B. J. Thomson|author6=G. W. Patterson|author7=L. M. Carter|volume=116|issue=E01005|page=8|doi=10.1029/2010JE003647|bibcode=2011JGRE..116.1005N|doi-access=free}}</ref>
Water may have been delivered to the Moon over geological timescales by the regular bombardment of water-bearing [[comet]]s, [[asteroid]]s and [[meteoroid]]s,<ref>{{cite journal | last=Elston | first=D. P. | title=Character and Geologic Habitat of Potential Deposits of Water, Carbon and Rare Gases on the Moon | journal=Geological Problems in Lunar and Planetary Research | date=1971 | url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1971gplp.conf..441E/abstract |page=441| bibcode=1971gplp.conf..441E }}</ref> or continuously produced ''in situ'' by the hydrogen ions ([[proton]]s) of the [[solar wind]] impacting oxygen-bearing minerals.<ref name="nasa2">{{cite web|url=http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/project/faq.htm#18|title=NASA – Lunar Prospector|publisher=lunar.arc.nasa.gov|access-date=2015-05-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914115221/http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/project/faq.htm#18|archive-date=2016-09-14}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The physical form of the water ice is unknown, but some studies suggest that it is unlikely to be present in the form of thick, pure ice deposits, and may be a thin coating on soil grains.<ref name="Jozwiak 2019">{{cite journal |last1=Jozwiak |first1=L. M. |last2=Patterson |first2=G. W. |last3=Perkins |first3=R. |date=2019 |title=Mini-RF Monostatic Radar Observations of Permanently Shadowed Crater Floors |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2019LPICo2152.5079J/abstract |journal=Lunar ISRU 2019 – Developing a New Space Economy Through Lunar Resources and Their Utilization |volume=2152 |page=5079 |bibcode=2019LPICo2152.5079J |issn=0161-5297}}</ref><ref name="NozetteEtAl10">{{cite journal|title=The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Miniature Radio Frequency (Mini-RF) Technology Demonstration|last1=Nozette|first1=Stewart|last2=Spudis|first2=Paul|last3=Bussey|first3=Ben|last4=Jensen|first4=Robert|last5=Raney|first5=Keith|journal=Space Science Reviews |date=January 2010|volume=150|issue=1–4|pages=285–302|bibcode=2010SSRv..150..285N|doi=10.1007/s11214-009-9607-5|s2cid=54041415 }}</ref><ref name="NeishEtAl11">{{cite journal |last1=Neish |first1=C. D. |last2=Bussey |first2=D. B. J. |last3=Spudis |first3=P. |last4=Marshall |first4=W. |last5=Thomson |first5=B. J. |last6=Patterson |first6=G. W. |last7=Carter |first7=L. M. |date=13 January 2011 |title=The nature of lunar volatiles as revealed by Mini-RF observations of the LCROSS impact site |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets |volume=116 |issue=E01005 |page=8 |bibcode=2011JGRE..116.1005N |doi=10.1029/2010JE003647 |doi-access=free}}</ref>


If it is possible to mine and extract the water molecules ({{chem|H|2|O}}) in large amounts, it can be broken down to its elements, namely hydrogen and oxygen, and form molecular hydrogen ({{chem|H|2}}) and molecular oxygen ({{chem|O|2}}) to be used as rocket bi-propellant or produce compounds for [[metallurgy|metallurgic]] and chemical production processes.<ref name='Anand 2012'>"Moon and likely initial in situ resource utilization (ISRU) applications" M. Anand, I. A. Crawford, M. Balat-Pichelin, S. Abanades, W. van Westrenen, G. Péraudeau, R. Jaumann, W. Seboldt; ''Planetary and Space Science''; volume 74; issue 1; December 2012, pp. 42-48 {{doi|10.1016/j.pss.2012.08.012}}</ref> Just the production of propellant, was estimated by a joint panel of industry, government and academic experts, identified a near-term annual demand of 450 metric tons of lunar-derived propellant equating to 2450 metric tons of processed lunar water, generating US$2.4 billion of revenue annually.<ref name='Approach 2019'>[https://www.space.com/moon-mining-space-exploration-report.html Moon Mining Could Actually Work, with the Right Approach] Leonard David, ''Space.com'' 15 March 2019</ref>
If it is possible to mine and extract the water molecules ({{chem|H|2|O}}) in large amounts, it can be broken down to its elements, namely hydrogen and oxygen, and form molecular hydrogen ({{chem|H|2}}) and molecular oxygen ({{chem|O|2}}) to be used as rocket bi-propellant or produce compounds for [[metallurgy|metallurgic]] and chemical production processes.<ref name="Anand 2012">{{cite journal |last1=Anand |first1=M. |last2=Crawford |first2=I. A. |last3=Balat-Pichelin |first3=M. |last4=Abanades |first4=S. |last5=van Westrenen |first5=W. |last6=Péraudeau |first6=G. |last7=Jaumann |first7=R. |last8=Seboldt |first8=W. |date=2012 |title=A brief review of chemical and mineralogical resources on the Moon and likely initial in situ resource utilization (ISRU) applications |journal=Planetary and Space Science |volume=74 |issue=1 |pages=42–48 |bibcode=2012P&SS...74...42A |doi=10.1016/j.pss.2012.08.012}}</ref> Just the production of propellant, was estimated by a joint panel of industry, government and academic experts, identified a near-term annual demand of 450 metric tons of lunar-derived propellant equating to 2450 metric tons of processed lunar water, generating US$2.4 billion of revenue annually.<ref name='Approach 2019'>{{cite web | last=David | first=Leonard | title=Moon Mining Could Actually Work, with the Right Approach | website=Space.com | date=2019-03-15 | url=https://www.space.com/moon-mining-space-exploration-report.html}}</ref>


== Science payload ==
== Science payload ==
The ''VIPER'' rover will be equipped with a drill and three analyzers. The Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS), will detect sub-surface water from a distance, then, ''VIPER'' will stop at that location and deploy a {{cvt|1|m}} drill called TRIDENT to obtain samples to be analyzed by its two onboard [[spectrometer]]s:<ref name='Loff Oct2019'>[https://www.nasa.gov/feature/new-viper-lunar-rover-to-map-water-ice-on-the-moon New VIPER Lunar Rover to Map Water Ice on the Moon] Sarah Loff, NASA 25 October 2019 {{PD-notice}}</ref><ref name='Bartells Oct2019'/><ref name="NASA 2019">{{cite web |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20190029655.pdf|title=Lunar Exploration Science Objectives|publisher=NASA|date=15 August 2019|access-date=22 September 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
The ''VIPER'' rover will be equipped with a drill and three analyzers. The Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS), will detect sub-surface water from a distance, then, ''VIPER'' will stop at that location and deploy a {{cvt|1|m}} drill called TRIDENT to obtain samples to be analyzed by its two onboard [[spectrometer]]s:<ref name='Loff Oct2019'>{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/new-viper-lunar-rover-to-map-water-ice-on-the-moon |title=New VIPER Lunar Rover to Map Water Ice on the Moon |first=Sarah |last=Loff |website=NASA |date=25 October 2019}}{{PD-notice}}</ref><ref name='Bartells Oct2019'/><ref name="NASA 2019">{{cite web |url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20190029655.pdf|title=Lunar Exploration Science Objectives|publisher=NASA|date=15 August 2019|access-date=22 September 2021}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>


[[File:VIPER rover nirvss.jpg|thumb|The NIRVSS instrument]]
[[File:VIPER rover nirvss.jpg|thumb|The NIRVSS instrument]]
Line 87: Line 87:
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! Instrument name !! Abbr. !! Provider !! Function<ref>[https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ames/where-s-the-water-two-resource-hunting-tools-for-the-moon-s-surface Where's the Water? Two Resource-Hunting Tools for the Moon's Surface] NASA 10 March 2019 {{PD-notice}}</ref>
! Instrument name !! Abbr. !! Provider !! Function<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/ames/where-s-the-water-two-resource-hunting-tools-for-the-moon-s-surface |title=Where's the Water? Two Resource-Hunting Tools for the Moon's Surface |website=NASA |date=10 March 2019}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>
|-
|-
| Neutron Spectrometer System || {{center|NSS}} || [[Ames Research Center]] (NASA) || Detect sub-surface hydrogen (potentially water) from a distance, suggesting prime sites for drilling. It measures the energy released by hydrogen atoms when struck by [[neutron]]s. Originally developed for the [[Resource Prospector (rover)|Resource Prospector]] rover.<ref name='Resource Prospector'>[http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018cosp...42E.981E Resource Prospector: Evaluating the ISRU potential of the lunar poles] Elphic, Richard; Colaprete, Anthony; Andrews, Daniel; 42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly Held 14–22 July 2018, in Pasadena, California, Abstract id. B3.1-14-18. July 2018</ref>
| Neutron Spectrometer System || {{center|NSS}} || [[Ames Research Center]] (NASA) || Detect sub-surface hydrogen (potentially water) from a distance, suggesting prime sites for drilling. It measures the energy released by hydrogen atoms when struck by [[neutron]]s. Originally developed for the [[Resource Prospector (rover)|Resource Prospector]] rover.<ref name='Resource Prospector'>{{cite journal | last1=Elphic | first1=Richard | last2=Colaprete | first2=Anthony | last3=Andrews | first3=Daniel | title=Resource Prospector: Evaluating the ISRU potential of the lunar poles | journal=42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly | date=2018 | volume=42 | url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018cosp...42E.981E/abstract | page=| bibcode=2018cosp...42E.981E }}</ref>
|-
|-
| The Regolith and Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrain || {{center|TRIDENT}} || {{center|[[Honeybee Robotics]]}} || 1-m drill will obtain subsurface samples.
| The Regolith and Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrain || {{center|TRIDENT}} || {{center|[[Honeybee Robotics]]}} || 1-m drill will obtain subsurface samples.
Line 102: Line 102:
* [[Lunar water]]
* [[Lunar water]]
* {{annotated link|Lunar resources}}
* {{annotated link|Lunar resources}}

* [[Chandrayaan-3]]
{{-}}
* [[Lunar Polar Exploration Mission|LUPEX]]
* [[Luna 27]]


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 06:53, 21 July 2024

VIPER
Artist's impression of VIPER operating in darkness.
NamesVolatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover
Mission typeExploration, resource prospecting
OperatorNASA
Websitehttps://www.nasa.gov/viper
Mission duration100 days (planned)[1][2][3]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typeRobotic lunar rover
ManufacturerNASA Ames Research Center
Dry mass430 kg (950 lb)[4]
Dimensions2.45 m (8 ft 0 in) in height,
1.53 m (5 ft 0 in) in length and width[5]
Start of mission
Launch dateSeptember 2025 (Canceled July 2024)
RocketFalcon Heavy
Launch siteKennedy Space Center, LC-39A
ContractorSpaceX
Moon rover
Landing dateSeptember 2025 (canceled)[6]
Landing siteMons Mouton, South pole region[7][2]
Instruments
Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS)
Near InfraRed Volatiles Spectrometer System (NIRVSS)
The Regolith and Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrain (TRIDENT)
Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSolo)

VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) was a lunar rover project developed by NASA (Ames Research Center) until cancelled in 2024. The rover would have been tasked with prospecting for lunar resources in permanently shadowed areas in the lunar south pole region, especially by mapping the distribution and concentration of water ice. The mission built on a previous NASA rover concept, the Resource Prospector, which had been cancelled in 2018.[8]

VIPER was to be carried aboard Astrobotic's Griffin lander as part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.[9]

Cancellation in 2024 - reasons

NASA's VIPER assembled at Johnson Space Center, when it was canceled

Amidst cost growth and delays to readiness of the rover and the Griffin lander, the VIPER program was ended in July 2024, with the rover planned to be disassembled and its instruments and components reused for other lunar missions. Before commencing disassembly, NASA announced they would consider "expressions of interest" from industry to use the "VIPER rover system at no cost to the government."[6] At the time of the announcement NASA expected to save $84 million by canceling the mission, which has cost $450 million so far.[10] The budgeted cost to build VIPER was $433.5 million, with $235.6 million budgeted to launch the lander.[11] The agency still plans to support the Griffin lander to arrive on the Moon in fall of 2025, though with a mass simulator in place of the VIPER rover.[12] NASA expects the primary objectives of VIPER to be fulfilled by an array of other missions planned for the next several years.[11]

Artist's conception of the VIPER rover on the Moon (Image courtesy of NASA Ames Research Center)

Objectives - Purpose

Orbital survey of the Moon taken by the Moon Mineralogy Mapper instrument on India's Chandrayaan-1 orbiter. Blue shows the spectral signature of hydroxide, green shows the brightness of the surface as measured by reflected infrared radiation from the Sun and red shows a mineral called pyroxene.
The image shows the distribution of surface ice at the Moon's south pole (left) and north pole (right) as viewed by NASA's Moon Mineralogy Mapper (M3) spectrometer onboard India's Chandrayaan-1 orbiter.

The VIPER rover has a size similar to a golf cart (around 1.4 × 1.4 × 2 m), and would have been tasked with prospecting for lunar resources, especially for water ice, mapping its distribution, and measuring its depth and purity.[1][2] The water distribution and form must be better understood before it can be evaluated as a potential resource within any evolvable lunar or Mars campaign.[13]

Proposed landing site of the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER)

The VIPER rover was to operate on the western edge of Nobile crater on Mons Mouton in the Moon's south pole region.[7][14] The first ever rover with its own lighting source,[15] it was planned to rove several kilometers, collecting data on different kinds of soil environments affected by light and temperature—those in complete darkness, occasional light and in constant sunlight.[16][2] In permanently shadowed locations, it would operate on battery power alone and would not be able to recharge them until it drives to a sunlit area. Its total operation time was planned to be 100 Earth days.[1][2][3]

History - Project management

The VIPER rover was part of the Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program managed by the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, and was meant to support the crewed Artemis program.[2] NASA's Ames Research Center was managing the rover project. The hardware for the rover was designed by the Johnson Space Center, while the instruments were provided by Ames, Kennedy, and Honeybee Robotics.[2] The project manager was Daniel Andrews,[2][17] and the project scientist was Anthony Colaprete, who was implementing the technology developed for the now cancelled Resource Prospector rover.[18] The estimated cost of the mission was US$250 million in October 2019.[3] NASA said on 3 March 2021 that the new lifecycle cost for the mission was US$433.5 million.[19]

Both the launcher and the lander were competitively provided through Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contractors, with Astrobotic providing the Griffin lander to deliver the rover, and SpaceX providing the Falcon Heavy launch vehicle.[20] NASA was aiming to land the rover in September 2025 until the mission was canceled on 17 July 2024.[6][21]

Rover assembly and preparation for launch

In February 2024 the final instrument, the TRIDENT drill, was installed into the rover.[22] Later on 28 February 2024, VIPER Project Manager Dan Andrews announced that all the rover's scientific instruments were installed, and that it was more than 80% built.[23] Further progress was reported in April 2024, remaining on track for launch later in the year.[24] The rover moved to the environmental testing phase in May.[25]

Science background

Main articles: Lunar water and Lunar resources

Data obtained by Lunar Prospector,[26] Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Chandrayaan-1, and the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, revealed that lunar water is present in the form of ice near the lunar poles, especially within permanently shadowed craters in the south pole region,[27][28] and present in the form of hydrated minerals in other high-latitude locations.[29]

Water may have been delivered to the Moon over geological timescales by the regular bombardment of water-bearing comets, asteroids and meteoroids,[30] or continuously produced in situ by the hydrogen ions (protons) of the solar wind impacting oxygen-bearing minerals.[26] The physical form of the water ice is unknown, but some studies suggest that it is unlikely to be present in the form of thick, pure ice deposits, and may be a thin coating on soil grains.[31][32][28]

If it is possible to mine and extract the water molecules (H
2O) in large amounts, it can be broken down to its elements, namely hydrogen and oxygen, and form molecular hydrogen (H
2) and molecular oxygen (O
2) to be used as rocket bi-propellant or produce compounds for metallurgic and chemical production processes.[33] Just the production of propellant, was estimated by a joint panel of industry, government and academic experts, identified a near-term annual demand of 450 metric tons of lunar-derived propellant equating to 2450 metric tons of processed lunar water, generating US$2.4 billion of revenue annually.[34]

Science payload

The VIPER rover will be equipped with a drill and three analyzers. The Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS), will detect sub-surface water from a distance, then, VIPER will stop at that location and deploy a 1 m (3 ft 3 in) drill called TRIDENT to obtain samples to be analyzed by its two onboard spectrometers:[2][3][35]

The NIRVSS instrument
Instrument name Abbr. Provider Function[36]
Neutron Spectrometer System
NSS
 Ames Research Center (NASA) Detect sub-surface hydrogen (potentially water) from a distance, suggesting prime sites for drilling. It measures the energy released by hydrogen atoms when struck by neutrons. Originally developed for the Resource Prospector rover.[13]
The Regolith and Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrain
TRIDENT
Honeybee Robotics
 1-m drill will obtain subsurface samples.
Near InfraRed Volatiles Spectrometer System
NIRVSS
 Ames Research Center (NASA) Analyze mineral and volatile composition; determine if the hydrogen it encounters belong to water molecules (H2O) or to hydroxyl (OH−). Originally developed for the Resource Prospector rover.[13]
Sub-systems: Spectrometer Context Imager (a broad-spectrum camera); Longwave Calibration Sensor (measures surface temperature at very small scales).
Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations
MSolo
 Kennedy Space Center (NASA) Analyze mineral and volatile composition. Measures the mass-to-charge ratio of ions to elucidate the chemical elements contained in the sample.

See also

References

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