Overview

• NASA's first robotic moon rover, VIPER, is set to explore the lunar South Pole in late 2024, aiming to understand the moon's water and environment for future astronaut landings.
• VIPER will carry the names of potentially millions of people, with names to be received by the end of 15 March 2024.
• The rover will rely on its solar panels and batteries for its roughly 100-day mission, tolerating extreme temperatures and challenging lighting conditions.
• VIPER will measure the location and concentration of water ice and other resources, potentially changing the way we prepare for and conduct long-duration missions in space.
• The rover is part of NASA's Artemis programme, which plans to send the first woman and person of colour to the moon.