Blue Moon Mark 1 (second lander) - VIPER delivery

Kind

Spacecraft

Mission type

Prospecting

Target

MoonLunar South Pole regionSouth polar region, no point: Lunar south pole missions

Launch

Not recorded

Landing

Planned 2027 H2 (target)

Announcement date not recorded. Record checked 2026-10-31.

Phase

In developmentIn development: NASA (2025-09-19 release; Moon Base Phases page last updated 2026-10-08 when read on 2026-10-29) says the second Blue Moon MK1 lander is in production and VIPER is scheduled to arrive in late 2027. That arrival target is recorded as the planned landing date; no launch date is stated. In an article published 2026-08-04 and updated 2026-08-05, NASA described the first MK1 lander, Endurance, as still in integrated testing, so it had not flown; no NASA page read states whether the VIPER delivery option has been exercised.

Outcome

Not applicable

Why it is included

Carries a resource instrument

Next recorded dates are plans, not results.

Landing: Planned 2027 H2 (target)Announcement date not recorded. Record checked 2026-10-31.

Operators, payload owners, carriers and customers are recorded separately.

1. 2025-09-19

   NASA CLPS task order to Blue Origin for VIPER delivery

   ContractBlue OriginWith Blue Moon Mark 1 (second lander) - VIPER delivery, VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover), National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationUSD 190,000,000 (official award record)

   NASA awarded Blue Origin a CLPS task order, with an option, to deliver the VIPER water-ice prospecting rover to the lunar South Pole in late 2027 on a second Blue Moon MK1 lander. NASA gives a total potential value of $190 million.

   Sources (2) and evidence gaps

   1. [1]NASA Selects Blue Origin to Deliver VIPER Rover to Moon's South Pole (Release 25-064)
      NASAGovernment recordPublished 2025-09-19Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: amount

      The CLPS task order has a total potential value of $190 million.

      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
   2. [2]NASA Selects Blue Origin to Deliver VIPER Rover to Moon's South Pole (Release 25-064)
      NASAGovernment recordPublished 2025-09-19Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: summary, counterparty

      NASA has awarded Blue Origin of Kent, Washington, a CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) task order with an option to deliver a rover to the Moon's South Pole region.

      Quote matched the source text when accessed.

   • Amount is total potential value including an option; exercise of the delivery option not confirmed

• Whether NASA has exercised the VIPER-delivery option of the task order is not confirmed from a primary source
• Launch vehicle not stated in NASA's award release
• No NASA or Blue Origin statement found on schedule impact of the 2026-05-28 New Glenn explosion that damaged Launch Complex 36

One web address counts as one publication.

1. [1]NASA Selects Blue Origin to Deliver VIPER Rover to Moon's South Pole (Release 25-064)
   NASAGovernment recordPublished 2025-09-19Accessed 2026-10-31Supports: participants, phase

   NASA has awarded Blue Origin of Kent, Washington, a CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) task order with an option to deliver a rover to the Moon's South Pole region.

   Quote matched the source text when accessed.
2. [2]NASA Selects Blue Origin to Deliver VIPER Rover to Moon's South Pole (Release 25-064)
   NASAGovernment recordPublished 2025-09-19Accessed 2026-10-31Supports: objective, resources, why it is included

   NASA's VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) will search for volatile resources, such as ice, on the lunar surface

   Quote matched the source text when accessed.
3. [3]NASA Selects Blue Origin to Deliver VIPER Rover to Moon's South Pole (Release 25-064)
   NASAGovernment recordPublished 2025-09-19Accessed 2026-10-31Supports: landing date, phase

   With this new award, Blue Origin will deliver VIPER to the lunar surface in late 2027, using a second Blue Moon MK1 lander, which is in production.

   Quote matched the source text when accessed.
4. [4]Moon Base Phases (living page; last updated 2026-10-08)
   NASAGovernment recordAccessed 2026-10-31Supports: landing date

   Scheduled to arrive at the lunar South Pole in late 2027 through NASA's CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative

   Quote matched the source text when accessed.
5. [5]Moon Base Phases (living page; last updated 2026-10-08)
   NASAGovernment recordAccessed 2026-10-31Supports: phase

   VIPER will ride to the Moon aboard Blue Origin's second Blue Moon MK1 lander currently in production.

   Quote matched the source text when accessed.
6. [6]Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket explodes during prelaunch testing at Cape Canaveral
   Spaceflight NowPressPublished 2026-05-29Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: open evidence gaps

   Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket exploded on the pad at Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station as the result of an anomaly during a static fire test on Thursday, May 28.

   Quote matched the source text when accessed.
7. [7]NASA Provides Updates on Moon Base Cargo Landers, Tech Demonstrations
   NASAGovernment recordPublished 2026-08-04Accessed 2026-10-31Supports: status explanation

   Blue Origin’s Blue Moon MK1 lander is progressing through integrated testing to prepare for its upcoming lunar delivery.

   Quote matched the source text when accessed.
8. [8]NASA Selects Blue Origin to Deliver VIPER Rover to Moon's South Pole (Release 25-064)
   NASAGovernment recordPublished 2025-09-19Accessed 2026-10-31Supports: landing date

   The rover has a targeted science window for its 100-day mission that requires a landing by late 2027.

   Quote matched the source text when accessed.

SpaceMiningData, “Blue Moon Mark 1 (second lander) - VIPER delivery”, dataset version a00fa2c68a45, built 2026-11-11, https://spaceminingdata.com/missions/blue-origin-blue-moon-mk1-viper.html. Record checked 2026-10-31.