NASA Revives VIPER Moon Rover Mission; Opens Call For Industry Partnership Proposals

NASA is seeking U.S. industry partners to deliver and operate the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) on the surface of the Moon.

This comes after the agency canceled the original mission in July 2024, citing concerns about budget overruns and potential delays. Now, NASA plans to collaborate with private companies to reignite the mission and maintain its critical scientific objectives.

A New Vision for VIPER

The Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) is a 500-kilogram robotic explorer designed to search for water ice and other valuable resources in the permanently shadowed regions of the Moon’s south pole.

The rover plays a vital role in NASA’s long-term Artemis program, which seeks to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon.

Under this new partnership initiative, NASA will provide the VIPER rover, which it has built and tested. The selected private partner will be responsible for integrating the rover with their lunar lander, launching it, safely landing it on the Moon, and conducting surface operations. The selected company will also oversee the collection and dissemination of scientific data from the mission.

Why the Change?

NASA originally contracted Astrobotic Technology, a commercial space company, to deliver VIPER under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. However, mounting costs and scheduling risks led the agency to rethink its approach.

In July 2024, NASA officially canceled the mission, leaving room for potential partnerships with private industry or even international organizations.

The agency quickly began exploring alternatives. It issued a Request for Information (RFI) and received 11 responses, sparking further evaluation. By late October, NASA’s deputy associate administrator for exploration, Joel Kearns, hinted that the agency was close to making a decision. Now, with its February 3 announcement, NASA is launching a two-step competition to select a partner by mid-2025.

Partnering to Achieve Lunar Science and Innovation

NASA’s dual goals with this collaboration are clear: to preserve VIPER’s scientific mission and to accelerate the development of U.S. commercial space capabilities. Companies selected through this competition will demonstrate their ability to land large payloads, a skill that could be valuable for future government and private missions.

“Moving forward with a VIPER partnership offers NASA a unique opportunity to engage with the private sector,...This collaboration will allow us to gather critical data on lunar water, which is key to future exploration, while supporting the development of commercial lunar landing technologies.” - Nicky Fox, NASA’s Associate Administrator for Science

The Selection Process: Two Steps to the Moon

NASA’s selection process consists of two phases:

Step 1 Proposal Submission: Companies must outline their preliminary plans to deliver and operate VIPER while ensuring the mission’s scientific goals are met. These initial proposals are due by March 3, 2025 (revised from an earlier date of February 20, 2025).

Step 2 Proposal Submission: After reviewing the initial proposals, NASA will invite selected companies to submit more detailed proposals by May 2, 2025. These proposals will include specifics on technical implementation, management plans, schedules, and financial considerations.

NASA aims to select a partner within 30 days of the Step 2 deadline and will finalize the collaboration through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA).

The Role and Responsibilities of the Selected Partner

The selected company will face a challenging but rewarding task: successfully launching and landing the rover, ensuring its safe deployment, and managing its operations on the lunar surface.

Under the CRADA, NASA will provide the VIPER rover “as-is,” and the private partner will be responsible for integrating the rover with their lander, launching it, and carrying out surface operations. NASA will not provide direct funding to the selected company; Instead, the partner must cover the mission costs, which are expected to be significant.

NASA has previously estimated that delivering VIPER independently could cost between $350 million and $550 million.

Despite the high price tag, NASA argues that the mission presents an invaluable opportunity for companies looking to develop their lunar capabilities.

“Being selected for the VIPER partnership would benefit any company interested in advancing their lunar landing and surface operations capabilities...NASA is looking forward to collaborating with U.S. industry to tackle the challenges of lunar volatiles science.” - Joel Kearns, NASA’s Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration

The data collected by VIPER will play a critical role in identifying resources that could support future human missions to the Moon and beyond. Water ice, in particular, could be used for life support, fuel production, and other essential needs for long-term lunar habitation.

The partnership also aligns with NASA’s broader push to foster a thriving commercial space industry, enabling companies to gain experience with high-stakes missions. As private sector partners build and demonstrate their technological capabilities, the U.S. could become a leader in providing lunar delivery and resource prospecting services on a global scale.

Looking Ahead

With proposals due in the coming months and a partner expected to be selected by mid-2025, the new approach to VIPER is poised to breathe new life into NASA’s lunar ambitions. If successful, the mission will not only provide valuable insights into the Moon’s resources but also set a new standard for collaboration between government and industry in space exploration.