VIPER

VIPER

Falcon Heavy NOV 10 2024

VIPER ("Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover"), is scheduled to take off for the moon. It has now reached a significant milestone on that journey.VIPER has over 80% of its construction completed, and all of its flight instruments are operational.Dan Andrews, the project manager for VIPER, posted on the NASA blog on Wednesday, February 28.This is a significant achievement that demonstrates the excellent work being done by the committed VIPER team, who are thrilled to see the rover come together.

Last updated: May 10, 2024

Launch Information

Launch Information

Launch Vehicle Details

Mission NameVIPER
Launch SiteLC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, United States
Launch VehicleFalcon Heavy
AgencySpaceX
Launch DateNOV 10 2024
NASA's Artemis lunar rover, the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER, will explore the relatively nearby but extreme environment of the Moon in search of ice and other potential resources. This mobile robot will land at the South Pole of the Moon in late 2024 on a 100-day mission. The critical information it provides will teach us about the origin and distribution of water on the Moon and help determine how we can harvest the Moon's resources for future human space exploration.

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