NASA’s moon rover could be resurrected by Intuitive Machines

Last month, NASA shocked lunar scientists by canceling work on its moon rover, VIPER. The Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover was meant to search for water at the moon’s south pole, but was axed due to rising costs.

An open letter to Congress criticized the cancellation, calling it “unprecedented and indefensible.” Scientists argued that VIPER was crucial for understanding water presence on the moon, a key resource for human exploration.

Now, Intuitive Machines, the company behind a recent lunar lander mission, is interested in taking over the VIPER mission. They believe the science is important for lunar exploration and the Artemis program.

NASA is considering handing off the VIPER mission to a commercial partner to avoid wasting previous work. Intuitive Machines is exploring the costs of completing the rover and collaborating with other organizations.

If Intuitive Machines proceeds with VIPER, they plan to use their Nova-D lander with a higher weight capacity than their previous lander. The mission’s launch is targeted for late 2027, with updates from NASA expected soon.