Nasa has taken a significant step in lunar exploration by reviving its robotic lunar rover mission. On September 19, 2023, the space agency announced that it has selected Blue Origin to transport the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER, to the moon’s south pole in 2027. This selection comes as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, with a task order valued at $190 million. Blue Origin will utilize its Blue Moon Mark 1 lander for this mission, marking the lander's second flight after an anticipated launch later this year.
The primary objective of the VIPER mission is to search for water ice at the lunar south pole, particularly in permanently shadowed craters. This mission holds immense significance as discovering water on the moon could pave the way for future lunar habitation and exploration. NASA's decision to revive the VIPER mission marks a notable change, considering that in July 2024, the agency announced plans to cancel it due to cost overruns and concerns about the readiness of the original lander, Astrobotic’s Griffin.
Initially, NASA expressed concerns regarding the viability of the Griffin lander for a planned launch in September 2025. Subsequently, the agency sought proposals for partnerships that could facilitate VIPER's journey to the moon without additional funding from NASA. However, on May 7, NASA determined it would not pursue a commercial partnership and instead explore alternative approaches. The recent announcement of the CLPS task order, referred to as CS-7, had not been publicly disclosed prior to the Blue Origin award.
This new CLPS task order operates under a different structure. The base award focuses solely on the design accommodations for VIPER on the Blue Moon lander and the process of transferring it to the lunar surface post-landing. An option exists that would fund the actual delivery of VIPER, contingent upon successful completion of design work and a successful landing of the first Blue Moon mission. Nicky Fox, NASA's associate administrator for science, emphasized the importance of creative and cost-effective approaches in achieving exploration goals, stating, “This private sector-developed landing capability enables this delivery and focuses our investments accordingly.”
Blue Origin has expressed confidence in its ability to support the VIPER rover mission, stating on social media that the second Blue Moon MK1 lander is already in production. The company highlighted that this mission is crucial for the future of lunar exploration and will provide valuable insights into the origin and distribution of water on the moon.
Interestingly, NASA is effectively funding two rides for VIPER. The agency has retained its original CLPS award to Astrobotic, which will now be used to demonstrate Griffin’s landing capabilities. Astrobotic has chosen not to bid on the new VIPER opportunity, citing the compressed timeline for the CS-7 mission and existing commitments to other customers. This strategic decision reflects Astrobotic's focus on successfully delivering payloads aboard its Griffin-1 lander and preparing for future missions.
As NASA moves forward with the VIPER mission, the agency has not yet disclosed details regarding the timeline for the CS-7 award or the number of bids received. However, the revival of this mission represents a significant step in lunar exploration and underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing our understanding of the moon.
