Griffin Mission 1

Griffin Mission 1

Falcon Heavy TBD - 2025

Griffin Mission One (GM1) is a dedicated mission that will deliver NASA’s Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) to the Moon in 2025. Griffin will land at the South Pole and deploy VIPER to conduct the first widespread ground truth measurements of lunar water ice. Such ice may one day be used for life support and propellant that could assist future deep space explorers.

Last updated: Jan 02, 2025

Launch Information

Launch Information

Launch Vehicle Details

Mission NameGriffin Mission 1
Launch SiteLC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, United States
Launch VehicleFalcon Heavy
AgencySpaceX
Launch DateTBD - 2025

The Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) on Griffin Mission 1 (TO 20A) is a lunar rover designed to search the regolith for water ice and other volatiles in the Moon's south polar region over a 100-day duration mission in late 2025. The primary objectives are to learn about the origin and distribution of water on the Moon, and to help determine how to harvest the Moon's resources for future human exploration. It will also be a technology demonstration mission for operations in extreme low temperatures, dynamic lighting conditions, and rugged terrain, as well as for power generation and storage technologies. VIPER is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, in which NASA contracts with a commercial partner that provides the launch and lander.

Launch Vehicle - Falcon Heavy

Height70 m (230 ft)
Diameter3.66 m (12.0 ft)
Width12.2 m (40 ft)
Mass1420 t (3130000 lb)
Stages2.5
Payload To LEO63800 Kg / 140660 lb
Payload To GTO26700 Kg / 58860 lb
Payload To MTO16800 Kg / 37040 lb
Payload To Pluto3.5 t (7700 lb)
No Of Boosters2
Burn Time397 sec
PropellantSubcooled LOX / Chilled RP-1
Engine1
Thrust845 kN / 190000 lbf