VIPER Explorer Canceled Going To The Moon Due To Cost Issues

VIPER rover in Johnson Space Center's clean space (photo: dock. NASA)

NASA announced the cancellation of the Volales Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission on Wednesday, July 17. This cancellation was made because the development of its project would be halted. There are two factors that affect the cancellation of this mission, namely the continued delay of costs and launch dates. These two things are interrelated as the longer the mission is delayed, the greater the risk of future cost growth. This mission was first postponed due to NASA's request. This lunar rover was supposed to be launched at the end of last year, but VIPER needed more time for pre-flight testing so that its launch schedule was moved to this year. Unfortunately, the VIPER launch window was again delayed due to problems on supply chains. The rover was supposed to launch via the Commercial Lunar Charge Service (CLPS) in September 2025, but NASA wanted to cancel its mission. "Continuing the VIPER will result in an increased cost of threatening cancellation or disruption to other CLPS missions. NASA has notified Congress about the agency's intentions," NASA said.

By canceling the VIPER mission, NASA will keep its remaining funds for other lunar exploration missions. The rover will be dismantled in the near future and all of its instruments and components will be used again in the future. "Before the dismantling, NASA will consider statements of interest from the US industry and international partners no later than Thursday, August 1, for the use of an existing VIPER rover system at no cost to the government," NASA explained. Although NASA wants to focus on other exploration missions, the cancellation of the VIPER project remains a setback. Over the years this mission has been developed, NASA has spent up to US$450 million (Rp7.2 trillion).