Two months ago, NASA cancelled VIPER, a science rover mission to the moon’s south pole to explore for water ice. This decision was made despite the fact that the rover is fully built and has completed final testing. As professional lunar scientists and engineers unaffiliated with VIPER, we maintain that the cancellation is a mistake. It indicates that NASA is not serious about sustainable space exploration through Artemis, its return to the moon program, and that the United States is willing to let China become the world leaders in lunar science, exploration and resources.
NASA states that “the pillars of science, national posture, and inspiration form the foundation of the agency’s exploration plans.” The VIPER cancellation directly undermines all three. It signals to the ever-growing lunar community that science is not important under Artemis. It allows other countries to continue to establish the standard for how the moon is to be explored. And it eliminates real time video of the first ever long-lived U.S. rover in operation on the moon that could inspire countless students and the public.
China is able, and willing, to fill this void. The Chang’e-7 and 8 missions will explore the lunar south pole for water ice in 2026 and 2028, respectively. This comes just after China returned the first ever samples from the far side of the moon. The last time the United States returned lunar samples was over 50 years ago. As China has publicly stated, the data from these missions will be used to inform where to build the Chinese-led International Lunar Research Station to make optimal use of lunar resources. Will they get the best location? More importantly, will they set the precedent for extracting and using lunar resources?
Apollo proved that exploration enables science. VIPER, for the first time on the moon, proves that science can enable exploration. VIPER will deliver critical science results about lunar water ice while at the same time…
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