NASA put VIPER lunar rover up for sale – there is no money to launch it

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.

admin

Share
Published by
admin

Recent Posts

The First Berserker: Khazan – Cheap, but Good and Cheerful. Review

Played on Xbox Series X Although Dungeon Fighter Online has a billion players, you probably…

46 minutes ago

The First Berserker: Khazan – Cheap, but Good and Cheerful. Review

Played on Xbox Series X Although Dungeon Fighter Online has a billion players, you probably…

52 minutes ago

Three months to Mars: British invent space tug with thermonuclear propulsion

British startup Pulsar Fusion has unveiled the concept of the Sunbird space tug powered by…

3 hours ago

Three months to Mars: British invent space tug with thermonuclear propulsion

British startup Pulsar Fusion has unveiled the concept of the Sunbird space tug powered by…

3 hours ago

Telegram now offers group calls for 100 people with end-to-end encryption — in test mode for now

The beta version of Telegram for Android (11.9.1) has a group calling feature that allows…

4 hours ago

Newly awakened black hole reveals ‘wild’ appetite that stuns scientists

A supermassive black hole in the galaxy SDSS1335+0728, located 300 million light years from Earth,…

5 hours ago