NASA revives VIPER rover for 2027 Blue Origin CLPS delivery
NASA has reinstated the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission and plans to send it to the lunar South Pole in 2027 aboard Blue Origin’s Blue Moon Mark 1 lander under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Blue Origin must first demonstrate its lunar delivery capability; if approved, VIPER would be ferried on a second Mark 1 lander already in production.
Mission goals
VIPER will search for water ice and other volatiles in the extreme environment of the Moon’s South Pole — key resources that could support future human missions and help scientists understand the distribution and origin of volatiles across the solar system.
Why this matters
“This delivery could show us where ice is most likely to be found and easiest to access, as a future resource for humans,” said Joel Kearns, Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration with NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “By studying these sources of lunar water, we also gain valuable insight into the distribution and origin of volatiles across the solar system.”
Status & next steps
- Blue Origin has not yet attempted a moon landing; its first Mark 1 opportunity is expected to launch later this year as part of another CLPS delivery.
- NASA will evaluate that flight to inform its decision about carrying VIPER on a second Mark 1 lander.
- If successful, VIPER would land at the lunar South Pole in 2027 to begin in-situ investigation of water ice and other resources.
Sources & further reading
- NASA press release: NASA selects Blue Origin to deliver VIPER rover to Moon’s south pole
- NASA CLPS overview
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