Before NASA sends astronauts back to the moon, it might land a robotic explorer on the lunar surface. It will be called Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER. The space agency announced its plan back in 2019 but has now given more details about the rover’s aesthetics and mission.
The rover will look for resources on the Moon that might come in handy during manned missions – mostly water. The rover will investigate the South Pole, which is believed to be the biggest concentration of water ice on the lunar surface.
VIPER to work for 100 days
The South Pole has some areas that never see sunlight, meaning they are extremely cold. The rover will aim to navigate through the darkness and harsh weather to locate extremely cold spots. To navigate in the dark, VIPER will feature headlights, the first to be included on a Moon rover. It will also have special wheels and suspension that will help it travel through a bumpy surface.
The rover will be fitted with 4 instruments including a hammer drill and three spectrometers. Its mission is said to last 100 Earth days, where it will map out resources that can later be used by astronauts.
“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,” said Lori Glaze, director for NASA’s Planetary Science Division. “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.”
Harvesting resources 240,000 miles from Earth
The space agency will soon begin the development of the rover and aims to send VIPER to the lunar surface by late 2023. “VIPER will be the most capable robot NASA has ever sent to the lunar surface and allow us to explore parts of the Moon we’ve never seen,” said Sarah Noble, program scientist for VIPER.
Sarah also noted that the mission will help understand the origin and distribution of water on the Moon. This will allow scientists to harvest resources, enabling NASA to safely send humans even farther into space, including the Red Planet.
