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NEW DELHI: NASA’s next lunar mission, VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover), has taken a major step forward as it prepares to head to the Moon later this year. VIPER project manager Dan Andrews recently announced: “All of VIPER’s flight instruments are installed and the rover is more than 80% built!” He described this progress as a significant achievement, reflecting the hard work of the dedicated VIPER team, who are eager to see their efforts come to fruition.
The rover’s mission is to explore the lunar south pole, searching for water ice and other resources. This exploration is crucial to supporting NASA’s Artemis astronauts, including the first woman and first person of color scheduled to walk on the moon on the Artemis 3 mission, scheduled for 2026. Over a period of 100 days, VIPER will traverse the lunar south pole. region, creating detailed maps to locate water ice and assess the feasibility of resource extraction.
VIPER will become the first resource mapping mission on another celestial body, significantly contributing to the goal of establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon. Unlike previous missions, which collected data from lunar orbit, VIPER will examine the lunar surface directly, using advanced scientific instruments and a 1-meter drill to probe the ground at various depths.
The rover will face the Moon’s extreme conditions, including the intense cold of permanently shadowed regions and challenging terrain. The VIPER team is conducting extensive testing on the rover’s systems, including “piping” tests to ensure that all components, such as wiring harnesses and connectors, are working properly. Andrews emphasized the importance of this “test as you go” approach to mitigate risks and resolve any issues before the rover becomes inaccessible on the lunar surface.
The VIPER team remains optimistic as they continue the rigorous testing and assembly process, with Andrews yelling, “Go VIPER!”
The rover’s mission is to explore the lunar south pole, searching for water ice and other resources. This exploration is crucial to supporting NASA’s Artemis astronauts, including the first woman and first person of color scheduled to walk on the moon on the Artemis 3 mission, scheduled for 2026. Over a period of 100 days, VIPER will traverse the lunar south pole. region, creating detailed maps to locate water ice and assess the feasibility of resource extraction.
VIPER will become the first resource mapping mission on another celestial body, significantly contributing to the goal of establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon. Unlike previous missions, which collected data from lunar orbit, VIPER will examine the lunar surface directly, using advanced scientific instruments and a 1-meter drill to probe the ground at various depths.
The rover will face the Moon’s extreme conditions, including the intense cold of permanently shadowed regions and challenging terrain. The VIPER team is conducting extensive testing on the rover’s systems, including “piping” tests to ensure that all components, such as wiring harnesses and connectors, are working properly. Andrews emphasized the importance of this “test as you go” approach to mitigate risks and resolve any issues before the rover becomes inaccessible on the lunar surface.
The VIPER team remains optimistic as they continue the rigorous testing and assembly process, with Andrews yelling, “Go VIPER!”