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<\/a>\u201cThe VIPER rover and the commercial partnership that will deliver it to the Moon are a prime example of how the scientific community and U.S. industry are making NASA\u2019s lunar exploration vision a reality,\u201d said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. \u201cCommercial partners are changing the landscape of space exploration, and VIPER is going to be a big boost to our efforts to send the first woman and next man to the lunar surface in 2024 through the Artemis program.\u201d<\/p>\nVIPER\u2019s flight to the Moon is part of NASA\u2019s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which leverages the capabilities of industry partners to quickly deliver scientific instruments and technology demonstrations to the Moon. As part of its award, Astrobotic is responsible for end-to-end services for delivery of VIPER, including integration with its Griffin lander, launch from Earth, and landing on the Moon.<\/p>\n
During its 100-Earth-day mission, the approximately 1,000-pound VIPER rover will roam several miles and use its four science instruments to sample various soil environments. Versions of its three water-hunting instruments are flying to the Moon on earlier CLPS lander deliveries in 2021 and 2022 to help test their performance on the lunar surface prior to VIPER\u2019s mission. The rover also will have a drill to bore approximately 3 feet into the lunar surface.<\/p>\n
\u201cCLPS is a totally creative way to advance lunar exploration,\u201d said NASA\u2019s Associate Administrator for Science Thomas Zurbuchen. \u201cWe\u2019re doing something that\u2019s never been done before \u2013 testing the instruments on the Moon as the rover is being developed. VIPER and the many payloads we will send to the lunar surface in the next few years are going to help us realize the Moon\u2019s vast scientific potential.\u201d<\/p>\n