NASA updates lunar rover plans: VIPER due at Moon's south pole in 2027, crewed rover 2028
In short
NASA said on 20 October that its VIPER rover, built to survey lunar water resources, has been assembled and is in final testing, with arrival at the Moon's south pole planned for 2027. Astrolab and Lunar Outpost are working on the first crewed lunar terrain vehicles, which Blue Origin is to take to the south pole in 2028.
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The US space agency NASA announced on 20 October the latest development progress and mission plans for its lunar rovers, Xinhua reported from Los Angeles. The VIPER rover, built to explore lunar water resources, is planned to arrive at the Moon's south pole in 2027. Crewed lunar terrain vehicles are planned to arrive there by 2028, in support of future crewed lunar missions and lunar base construction. [ 3 , 4 ]
NASA said VIPER is at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, has been assembled and is in final testing. It is to be taken to the lunar surface in 2027 by a lander built by Blue Origin, to collect data on temperature, lighting and terrain at the south pole. Xinhua said the data would help scientists understand the origin and distribution of lunar water and assess the potential of lunar resources for a base. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
IT Home, citing NASA's official announcement, said VIPER will be moved to the Kennedy Space Center to prepare for launch. IT Home said its own inquiries showed the rover is to travel on Blue Origin's second Blue Moon MK1 lander and is expected to reach the south pole at the end of 2027. It said NASA plans to send VIPER into permanently shadowed craters to study resources at different depths, temperatures and soil conditions. [ 4 ]
NASA also awarded contracts to two companies to advance the first crewed lunar terrain vehicles. IT Home named them as Astrolab and Lunar Outpost. Xinhua said the companies plan to deliver the vehicles to NASA by the end of 2027 and that Blue Origin will take them to the south pole in 2028. IT Home said Blue Origin's goal is to deliver the vehicles in 2028. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
Xinhua said the crewed vehicles can be operated remotely from the ground and can map the surface before astronauts arrive. Design specifications include up to about 6 km of driving per day, up to about 10 km on a single charge, and a payload of up to about 80 kg of lunar samples and tools. In future Artemis crewed landing missions, astronauts are to drive the rovers around the south pole and bring geological samples back to Earth. [ 3 , 5 ]
IT Home said NASA describes the vehicles as unpressurised and able to carry astronauts and cargo during spacewalks. It said NASA expects the robotic rover and the crewed vehicles to support the early stage of base construction together, the first investigating resources such as water ice and the second handling transport, science and environmental mapping. [ 4 ]
Why it matters
The plans are presented as support for future crewed lunar missions and the building of a lunar base. Chinese outlets reported NASA's own account, and the documents do not give outside assessments.
Key facts
- NASA published updated development progress and mission plans for its lunar rovers on 20 October. [ 3 , 4 ]
- VIPER, which is to search for lunar water resources, has been assembled at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and is in final testing. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- VIPER is to be carried to the Moon's surface in 2027 by a lander built by Blue Origin to collect data on temperature, lighting and terrain at the south pole. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- NASA awarded contracts to two companies to advance development of the first crewed lunar terrain vehicles; the companies are to deliver them by the end of 2027. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
- Blue Origin is to carry the crewed lunar terrain vehicles to the lunar south pole in 2028. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
- Design specifications cited by Xinhua: up to about 6 km of driving per day, up to about 10 km on a single charge, and up to about 80 kg of lunar samples and tools. [ 3 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- NASA announced on 20 October updated progress and mission plans for its lunar rovers, including VIPER for 2027 and crewed lunar terrain vehicles for 2028. [ 3 , 4 ]
- VIPER has been assembled at the Johnson Space Center and is in final testing. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Blue Origin is to carry the crewed lunar terrain vehicles to the lunar south pole in 2028. [ 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- When VIPER will arrive at the Moon's south pole. Xinhua says only 2027, while IT Home says it is expected to arrive at the end of 2027 on the second Blue Moon MK1 lander, a detail it attributes to its own inquiries.
- Whether the crewed lunar terrain vehicles will be delivered to NASA before the end of 2027 or in 2028. Xinhua says the companies plan delivery to NASA by the end of 2027 and shipment in 2028, while IT Home says Blue Origin's goal is to deliver the vehicles in 2028.