NASA is planning to send its first mobile robot rover to the Moon in late 2023 as part of the Artemis program in search of ice and other resources both on as well as below the lunar surface. VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) aims to help the agency map resources at the lunar South Pole that could one day be harvested for long-term human exploration at the Moon.
Its unique design calls for using the first headlights on a lunar rover to help explore the permanently shadowed regions of the Moon, which haven’t seen sunlight in billions of years and are some of the coldest spots in the solar system. It will be solar-powered and needs to quickly maneuver around the extreme swings in light / dark at the lunar South Pole. The rover will come equipped with four instruments: a Regolith / Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrains (TRIDENT) hammer drill, the Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations (MSolo) instrument, the Near Infrared Volatiles Spectrometer System (NIRVSS) and the Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS).
- Features a detailed replica of the Eagle lunar lander with a depiction of the lunar surface, with a crater, footprints and a U.S. flag
- This modular model features a descent stage with gold-colored landing pads and panels, opening camera, laser hatches, and a movable ladder
- The ascent stage has a detailed interior with room for 2 astronauts. The model is finished with an Apollo 11 Lunar Lander nameplate
The data received from VIPER has the potential to aid our scientists in determining precise locations and concentrations of ice on the Moon and will help us evaluate the environment and potential resources at the lunar south pole in preparation for Artemis astronauts. This is yet another example of how robotic science missions and human exploration go hand in hand, and why both are necessary as we prepare to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon,” said Lori Glaze, director for NASA’s Planetary Science Division at the agency’s Headquarters in Washington.