NASA Seeks Partners for Nearly Finished Lunar Rover
NASA is looking for companies or groups interested in taking over their almost-complete lunar rover project.
The space agency sent out a request for information on August 9 for the VIPER spacecraft, which they announced they might cancel because of budget issues and delays. They made this announcement on July 17, and even though the rover is nearly done, they have bigger budget problems to solve.
When NASA shared the cancellation news, they asked companies, organizations, and international partners to show interest if they wanted to take over the rover. By August 1, at least twelve responses came in from various sources.
Now, NASA wants U.S. entities to explain how they would use the VIPER rover. The chosen partner will start with the current VIPER, finish any remaining tests, plan the landing, run a science mission, and share the data they collect.
Respondents need to outline their goals for VIPER and how they can meet some of NASA’s original objectives while adding value in other ways too. They must also detail how they will achieve this and what support they will need from NASA.
NASA is clear: whoever takes over the rover must send it to the moon as it is, not break it apart for its components.
“We want to make the best use possible of the engineering, technology, and expertise that have been developed by this project to advance scientific knowledge of the moon,” said Nicky Fox, NASA associate administrator for science.
The lunar science community isn’t happy about the cancellation. They argue that VIPER, close to completion, would have studied potential water ice near the moon’s south pole, which no other mission plans to do.
NASA officials say stopping work now will save at least $84 million, a figure that could rise if more problems are found during tests. Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration, pointed out that ongoing environmental testing often reveals issues that need fixing, costing time and money.
VIPER project scientist Anthony Colaprete mentioned that the rover had passed important launch tests and was preparing for thermal vacuum testing. He noted that the $84 million estimate included reserves to handle any issues found during these tests.
“Every single element within the rover has gone through its element-level thermal vac, so there’s a very low likelihood of significant issues as we move through thermal vac,” said Colaprete.
As of July 23, 2024, the rover had completed vibration and acoustic tests and was ready for thermal vacuum testing, expected to finish by October 2024.
The science team has also mapped out a 139-day path for VIPER on the lunar surface, aiming to explore several permanently shadowed regions that could contain ice. “VIPER was designed to drive far, last long in a PSR — nine hours — and drill often,” Colaprete explained.
I think it’s interesting how much planning goes into these missions, even when they might get canceled.
Kearns defended the decision to cancel, saying continuing VIPER would disrupt other lunar activities, including Commercial Lunar Payload Services missions. NASA plans to deliver VIPER using Astrobotic’s Griffin lander.
Scientists at the meeting noted that NASA is keeping the Griffin task order and might fly a mass simulator instead of VIPER. They stressed that VIPER’s unique science can’t be replaced by other upcoming missions.
Responses to the RFI are due by September 2. NASA will also look into international partnerships for VIPER through other channels.
