NASA cancels moon rover due to high costs

NASA announced it has cancelled its moon rover due to high costs. The VIPER was intended to explore the moon’s south pole for ice, with around $450 million (AED 1.6 billion) spent on the project.

It was expected to be launched in late 2023, although required testing and mounting costs delayed the mission to 2025 before it was cancelled.

Continuing the VIPER project would reportedly disrupt other Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) missions, a program that works with American companies to deliver science and technology to the lunar surface.

“The agency has an array of missions planned to look for ice and other resources on the Moon over the next five years. Our path forward will make maximum use of the technology and work that went into VIPER, while preserving critical funds to support our robust lunar portfolio,” said Nicola Fox, associate administrator, Science Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters in Washington.

NASA is reportedly pursuing alternative methods to accomplish many of VIPER’s goals and verify the presence of ice at the lunar South Pole.