NASA recently announced the cancellation of its VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) mission, a move that may seem surprising given the rover's near-complete status. The decision comes amid several major concerns, including delays, rising costs and potential future budget overruns.
Originally scheduled for late 2023, the VIPER mission ran into delays that pushed the expected launch date back to late 2024. This delay was intended to allow more time for pre-launch tests of the rover. However, due to further complications and supply chain issues, the readiness date was pushed back to September 2025. Despite these problems, NASA decided to completely stop the program.
Additional source of information SpaceNews
At the time of the cancellation, NASA had already invested about $450 million in the VIPER project. The decision to cancel the mission is expected to save the agency about $84 million. The main objectives of the VIPER mission were to study the south pole of the Moon for the presence of water ice and other volatile substances, while the rover weighed 430 kg.
The cancellation marks a setback for lunar exploration, but the space agency continues to focus on other ambitious projects. For example, recent NASA achievements include the successful landing of the lunar lander Odysseus by the private company Intuitive Machines, a milestone as the first privately owned lunar lander.
Although the end of the VIPER mission is disappointing, the exploration of the Moon and other celestial bodies remains a key aspect of NASA's long-term goals.
Follow news about space missions and lunar exploration.
Comments
Post a Comment