Key Takeaways
1. The Moon contains water, challenging previous beliefs about its dryness.
2. NASA’s VIPER mission aims to locate lunar ice and resources at the South Pole.
3. The VIPER mission faced delays and cancellations but is now back on track.
4. Blue Origin has been contracted to deliver VIPER to the Moon’s surface.
5. The delivery is expected by late 2027, following an initial mission later this year.
For many years, scientists thought that the Moon was completely devoid of water. However, further research has shown that this seemingly dry celestial body actually contains some water. Understanding where this water is located could be crucial for future missions aimed at establishing a more permanent human presence on the Moon.
VIPER Mission Overview
NASA has initiated the VIPER mission to investigate the lunar South Pole, with the goal of identifying where lunar ice and other important resources are situated. Initially, NASA aimed to launch this mission in late 2023, but it faced delays and even a cancellation due to various factors, like rising costs.
Mission Resumed
Good news has emerged, as the mission is back on track. NASA has recently granted Blue Origin, based in Kent, a contract that includes an option for delivering VIPER to the Moon’s surface. This agreement is part of a task order under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, specifically labeled CS-7.
Future Launch Plans
This marks the second lunar mission that NASA has awarded to Blue Origin through the CLPS program. The first delivery is anticipated to occur later this year. For that mission, Blue Origin plans to utilize its Blue Moon Mark 1 (MK1) robotic lander to transport NASA’s Stereo Cameras for Lunar-Plume Surface Studies and Laser Retroreflective Array payloads to the South Pole of the Moon.
Currently, Blue Origin is in the process of constructing a second Blue Moon MK1 lander, which is set to deliver VIPER by late 2027.
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