NASA to Send Rover to Search for Ice in Craters on the Moon
NASA is developing a small moon rover designed to search for ice at the Earth's satellite's poles. This vehicle, named VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover), differs from the rovers used for Mars exploration. VIPER's task is to investigate dark craters that have been devoid of sunlight for many years, as scientists have found evidence of ice in these areas, according to ArsTechnica. The potential to extract ice on the Moon could provide fuel and air for astronauts.
In June 2023, the VIPER team received official permission from the space agency to proceed with the full assembly and testing of the rover. The launch of VIPER is planned for November 2024.
"A large group of people has been working on this idea for over 10 years," said Anthony Colaprete, a NASA scientist.
During each journey to the dark craters, VIPER will rely on battery power for up to 50 hours, allowing it to remain active in areas without sunlight. When the Moon's South Pole moves out of Earth's view for two weeks due to its rotational oscillations, the 450 kg VIPER will enter a dormant mode, interrupting direct communication with Earth during this period.
"As it will venture into dark places, this is the first moon rover with headlights," Colaprete said during a presentation at a NASA scientific forum on Tuesday. LED headlights will illuminate the lunar landscape with blue light.
The vehicle will be delivered to the Moon using SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket and Astrobotic's lander module.
"We have less than a year left before we hand VIPER over to Astrobotic for integration into their Griffin lander. So the launch is not far away. The nominal date is November 10, 2024," noted Colaprete.
The entire mission is expected to cost around $500 million, including the rover, its scientific payload, and the contract with Astrobotic, which covers the cost of the Falcon Heavy launch.
The use of water ice allows for the extraction of hydrogen and oxygen, which can be utilized for various purposes. For example, they can be used for power generation, rocket fuel, or converted into breathable air to sustain a habitable environment on the Moon.