Intuitive Machines recently announced that it has begun assembling a group of companies to deliver the VIPER rover, which was canceled by NASA, to the Moon. The VIPER rover is considered an important element of the program for returning people to the satellite – it will search for water ice in the craters of the south pole of the Moon. Canceling his mission would be a blow to the program unless private initiative picks up the project from NASA’s weakening hands from budget cuts.
Artistic representation of the VIPER lunar rover. Image source: NASA
The NASA VIPER lunar rover for searching for volatile substances on the Moon has been fully developed and is now undergoing environmental tests. The agency spent $450 million on its construction. For the lunar rover to be finally ready to be sent into space, another $84 million is needed, not counting launch costs. However, NASA’s budget for 2025 has been significantly cut, forcing the agency to curtail a number of programs, including the VIPER mission.
The decision to “kill” the finished lunar rover shook up the scientific community. An open letter signed by more than 4,500 researchers – astronomers, planetary scientists and other specialists – was sent to the US Congress. Scientists have demanded funding for the project, which is essential for NASA’s Artemis lunar program. Without the discovery of water reserves and other resources on the Moon, the creation of a base for a permanent human presence on the satellite will be in question.
After the mission was cancelled, NASA decided to put the lunar rover or its scientific instruments up for sale. The company Intuitive Machines, which can be credited with the first landing of an American module on the Moon in more than 50 years (it capsized, but still landed), is ready to lend its shoulder to the agency to complete this mission. The trouble is that VIPER is a purely scientific project that was financed from the budget. The company itself does not have the money to complete it. She is currently incurring net losses. The coalition of companies assembled by Intuitive Machines and the emergence of customers for the accompanying payload can help in sending the lunar rover.
The Intuitive Machines Nova-D landing module can deliver the 950 kg lunar rover to the Moon. It will be capable of delivering 1.5 tons of cargo to the lunar surface. Customers for this additional 550 kg load can pay for full shipping, including the NASA lunar rover. This is real, according to Intuitive Machines. If this happens, then you can count on sending VIPER after 2025. Intuitive Machines does not yet have a Nova-D lander, and must fulfill a contract with NASA to send two lightweight Nova-C modules – one at the end of this year and the second in 2025.