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| VIPER (rover) | |
|---|---|
| Name | VIPER |
| Caption | Concept art of VIPER on the lunar surface |
| Operator | NASA |
| Manufacturer | NASA Ames Research Center; Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
| Mission type | Lunar rover |
| Launch mass | ~430 kg |
| Power | Radioisotope power system |
| Launch date | Planned 2024–2025 (slated) |
| Orbit | Lunar surface |
| Previous mission | Resource Prospector (cancelled) |
VIPER (rover)
VIPER is a planned NASA lunar rover tasked with prospecting for water ice and volatile resources on the Moon. Designed to operate in permanently shadowed and sunlit regions near the lunar south pole, VIPER will advance objectives from prior programs such as the Artemis program, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, and the LCROSS impactor missions.
VIPER is a mobile robotic platform developed primarily by NASA with contributions from Ames Research Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and industrial partners. The mission aligns with strategic goals established by the Artemis program, the National Space Council, and recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. VIPER builds on heritage from the Mars Exploration Rovers, Curiosity (rover), and the Opportunity (rover) programs while addressing scientific priorities identified by the Planetary Science Decadal Survey. The rover will explore diverse terrains informed by datasets from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Chandrayaan-1, and LCROSS.
VIPER’s chassis integrates systems developed at NASA Ames Research Center and flight hardware tested at the Glenn Research Center. The platform mass, thermal control, and power architecture draw on technology from the Mars Science Laboratory and Mars 2020 projects executed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory. VIPER uses a radioisotope-based power source similar in concept to systems from the Curiosity (rover) era and leverages guidance technologies validated on the Mars Exploration Rovers. Mobility components were influenced by designs from the Lunar Roving Vehicle heritage and recent work at Marshall Space Flight Center. Communications plan utilizes relay concepts comparable to those used by the Maven (spacecraft) and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter missions.
Primary objectives emphasize prospecting for lunar water ice and volatiles to inform in-situ resource utilization strategies advocated by the Artemis program and the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate. VIPER aims to characterize resource distribution and concentration, supporting objectives articulated by the Office of Science and Technology Policy and international partners including European Space Agency and JAXA. Scientific goals map to priorities of the Planetary Science Division and the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, while providing ground truth for orbital datasets from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, SELENE (Kaguya), and Chandrayaan-2.
VIPER carries a suite of instruments sponsored by teams at institutions such as Carnegie Institution for Science, Southwest Research Institute, and Brown University. Key payloads include a neutron spectrometer concept related to instruments on Lunar Prospector, a near-infrared spectrometer with heritage from CRISM and MOXIE development, ground-penetrating radar influenced by MARSIS and SHARAD, and a drill system building on designs from Phoenix (spacecraft) and InSight (lander). Scientific instrumentation is coordinated with the Planetary Science Division and the NASA Science Mission Directorate.
Operational planning uses autonomy software techniques developed for Curiosity (rover), Perseverance (rover), and the Mars Exploration Program to traverse shadowed lunar terrains while managing thermal challenges encountered in analog studies at Ames Research Center and Johnson Space Center. Navigation will incorporate datasets from Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and precision landing capabilities related to work by Blue Origin and SpaceX in collaboration with NASA landing architecture teams. Ground control operations will be conducted from mission operations centers including Jet Propulsion Laboratory and coordination with international tracking facilities such as those used by ESA and ISRO.
VIPER’s launch is planned in coordination with commercial delivery services influenced by procurements from the Commercial Lunar Payload Services program and contractors including Intuitive Machines and Astrobotic Technology. Mission phases include cruise, lunar orbit insertion or direct delivery, surface commissioning, traverse and science operations, and sample acquisition and analysis. Timeline milestones reference standards from programs like Artemis I, Artemis II, and milestone processes used by the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel.
Development is overseen by NASA with principal execution at NASA Ames Research Center and Jet Propulsion Laboratory and contractual partnerships with companies and institutions including Honeybee Robotics, Lockheed Martin, Astrobotic Technology, and academic teams from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California Institute of Technology, and University of Arizona. Funding flows through appropriations influenced by the United States Congress and budgetary guidance from the Office of Management and Budget, with programmatic oversight by the NASA Office of the Inspector General and advisory input from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.