NASA Sinked $600 Million Now It’s Looking for a Deer

Interestingly, the suspension of the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (Viper) mission before it was launched into space is partly a result of the pandemic. It was then that the supply chain for key components was significantly disrupted, which caused a domino effect. Ultimately, the costs of this mission were to increase by as much as 30%, which is why NASA decided to cancel it. In 2021, the project was estimated at $433.5 million, but the current financial plan was already $609.6 million. Such an increase in spending would have forced the cancellation or disruption of many other Commercial Lunar Payload Services missions.

How to sink money, do it with class

Delays in deliveries also affected assembly issues, because the vehicle itself was to be packed inside with specialized equipment. However, until it was inside, the vehicle structure could not be closed. The Viper itself was finally completed, but it still has to undergo environmental tests, which could show the need for a number of corrections. According to NASA estimates, canceling this project will save up to $84 million. Further funds could be spent on postponing the launch beyond November 2025, because then the window with appropriate lighting conditions would end. The next ones would have to wait from 9 to 12 months.

As NASA points out, most of the scientific tasks prepared for the Viper rover will be possible to perform by other lunar missions. However, only the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV), which is to provide astronauts from the Artemis mission with the ability to travel, will be as mobile as the canceled project. However, the LTV will not appear on the Silver Globe until the end of this decade at the earliest. Viper itself will be disassembled into parts, and what can be reused will go to hardware recycling. Although there is one more option. NASA is looking for volunteers who want to fly the rover at their own expense. However, a flight using the Griffin lander may certainly be problematic anyway.

The lander itself has also been delayed. It is now estimated that it will not be ready for the mission until September 2025. And although the fate of the Viper, for which the device was created, is uncertain, NASA still plans to send it to the Moon. Instead of a rover, it will take to the Silver Globe… an insignificant package corresponding to the mass of the canceled project, to show its capabilities. Why will it not be anything significant? Because, as NASA points out, the lander was designed only to transport Viper. And further changes mean further delays and costs. So Griffin will fly a bit empty. Well, if you’re going to spend money, do it with style.