NASA’s Viper Lunar Rover Searches for Moon Resources

NASA achieves progress in creating a long-term Viper lunar rover, planned for launch in 2024. According to the head of the project, the rover has already been half assembled.

Viper, or Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, will spend 100 days at the south pole of the moon in search of ice and other potential resources. It is equipped with three tools and a meter drill for samples under the surface.

NASA plans to use the data obtained by Rover to create the first maps of the moon resources, which is an important step for realizing the dream of long -term presence on the lunar surface.

However, before Viper goes to the moon, the team has to complete its assembly. According to the head of the project, Dan Andrews, most of the key components have already been delivered, and all scientific devices, except for one. Andrews also noted problems with the supply due to pandemia and technical difficulties in designing.

In the process of assembly of Rover, problems were discovered with the connectors from suppliers who were eliminated. Also, some characteristics of equipment from suppliers were unexpected, which required changes in Viper work plans.

The creation of spacecraft remains a difficult task. The next step after the assembly will be the testing of the rover in conditions as close as possible to the lunar, before sending to integration with the rocket.

Viper will be delivered to the Moon as part of the NASA initiative of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) on the lunar landing module Griffin, the production of Astrobotic from Pittsburgh. The launch of Rover was postponed for a year since November 2023 due to the request of NASA for additional ground tests of the landing module. The Astrobotic contract on CLPS was increased by $ 67.8 million.

Astrobotic has two lunar landing modules: Griffin and Peregrine. Peregrine, capable of delivering heavier loads, will be launched first. It has already been installed on the Vulcan Centaur missile from the United Launch Alliance (ULA) and is preparing to launch Florida on January 8, 2024.