NASA cancels VIPER lunar rover mission

NASA has decided to cancel the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission, which was intended to search for ice at the Moon's south pole.

The decision, announced on July 17, comes as a result of significant development delays and a 30% increase in projected costs, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The VIPER rover, which was set to explore the Moon’s south polar region using a commercial lander from Astrobotic Technology, aimed to investigate permanently shadowed areas to assess the presence and form of water ice.

Initially approved in 2021 with a budget of $433.5 million, the latest cost estimate for the mission had risen to $609.6 million, with a planned launch in September 2025.

NASA officials indicated that the substantial budget increase prompted the review and cancellation of the mission.

The agency plans to dismantle VIPER and repurpose its instruments and components.

Additionally, NASA will entertain proposals from American and international partners who might be interested in carrying out the VIPER mission independently, with proposals due by August 1.