NASA’s VIPER Mission | IASbaba

NASA’s VIPER Mission

Part of: GS Prelims and GS – III -Space

In news NASA has announced that it will launch its Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) in 2023 

About the mission

• VIPER stands for Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover. It is a mobile robot.
• Objectives:
  • To explore the Moon’s South Pole region.
  • Help create lunar resource maps.
  • Evaluate the concentration of water as well as other potential resources on its surface.
  • To understand if it is possible for human life to sustain there, by using locally available resources.
• It is the first resource mapping mission on any other celestial body.
• NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) will be providing the launch vehicle and lander for what’s going to be a 100-day mission.
• Significance:
  • VIPER’s findings will inform “future landing sites under the Artemis program by helping to determine locations where water and other resources can be harvested” to sustain humans over extended stays.

About Artemis Program

• During the Artemis program, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon, using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. 
• NASA will collaborate with other commercial and international partners and establish sustainable exploration for the first time. 
• Then, the learning from Moon exploration will enable NASA to take the next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars.

News Source: TH Businessline