Blue Origin to Deliver NASA’s VIPER Rover to Lunar South Pole

Blue Origin to Deliver NASA’s VIPER Rover to Lunar South Pole

On Friday, Blue Origin wins NASA deal to ferry VIPER rover to lunar south pole , a major milestone in the space company’s partnership with the U.S. space agency. The contract marks a strong vote of confidence in Blue Origin’s Blue Moon lander and highlights NASA’s renewed focus on lunar exploration. Image Credits:NASA This deal also breathes new life into VIPER, short for Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover . The program had been shelved last year due to delays and cost overruns, leaving the rover’s future uncertain. Now, VIPER will finally get its chance to explore the Moon’s surface. What the NASA-Blue Origin Deal Includes Under the agreement, Blue Origin will use its uncrewed Blue Moon MK1 lander to transport the rover. The mission, valued at about $190 million, is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. VIPER’s destination is the lunar south pole, a region scientists believe may contain large deposits of water ice. By drilling into the surface, VIPER will te…