NASA announced that due to budget cuts the agency had to cancel a number of space programs for 2025. Thus, the mission of the VIPER rover, which was supposed to look for ice in the craters of the south pole of the Moon, is subject to cancellation. The Lunokhod is fully assembled and is currently undergoing transport tests. Now anyone can buy it entirely or in parts – just scientific instruments. The project has already consumed $450 million, but canceling it would save NASA $84 million outside of launch costs.
Lunar rover VIPER as imagined by an artist. Image source: NASA
The VIPER four-wheeled lunar rover, weighing 450 kg and the size of a golf cart, was manufactured as part of NASA’s work with commercial programs. The car was supposed to be delivered to the Moon by the Astrobotic company, whose problems delayed the dispatch of the lunar rover in 2023 and 2024. Moreover, Astrobotic was noted for the unsuccessful launch of the Peregrine lunar landing module in January 2024, which burned up in the Earth’s atmosphere before it even had time to go to the Moon. There is a suspicion that NASA is predicting further delays with Astrobotic and is no longer ready to delay the fully assembled lunar rover. Ultimately, the equipment has a lifespan and cannot be stored in NASA’s warehouse forever.
For 2025, NASA received a budget cut of $1 billion annually. Several programs will be phased out, including VIPER dispatch. For example, the Chandra X-ray space observatory will be decommissioned. At the same time, NASA hopes to continue working with commercial companies that still have space ambitions. This will help shift the financial burden onto the shoulders of businesses and allow the agency to focus on extremely expensive projects on a national scale.