SpaceMiningData
PayloadMoonIn development

VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover)

NASA ice-prospecting rover built for a 100-day mission at the lunar south pole. NASA announced on 17 July 2024 that it would discontinue the project over cost growth and launch delays, then on 19 September 2025 awarded Blue Origin CLPS task order CS-7 (potential value $190 million) with an option to deliver VIPER on a second Blue Moon MK1 lander targeting late 2027; NASA will decide on that option after Blue Origin's first MK1 flight, which had not flown as of the last check.

Objective. Search for and map volatile resources such as water ice at the lunar south pole during a 100-day surface mission.

Targeted

Facts

Kind
Payload
Carried by
Blue Moon Mark 1 (second lander) - VIPER delivery
Mission type
Prospecting
Target
MoonMons Mouton, lunar south pole region
Launch
Not recorded
Phase
In developmentNASA release 25-064 (2025-09-19): the award base covers accommodation design and an offload demonstration, with delivery subject to a separate option. The late-2027 target is for landing; no primary launch date is established. Whether the delivery option has subsequently been exercised was not established in this review.
Outcome
Not applicable
Why it is included
Stated resource objective

Participants

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

OrganizationRole
National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationOperator
Blue OriginCarrier

Resources and evidence

ResourceEvidence
Water iceTargeted
VolatilesTargeted

Dated events

  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 id
      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
  2. 2024-07-17

    NASA announces intent to discontinue VIPER

    OtherNational Aeronautics and Space AdministrationWith VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover)

    NASA announced it would stop VIPER development, citing cost increases, launch delays and the risk of further cost growth, and invited expressions of interest in using the assembled rover at no cost to the government.

    Sources (1)
    1. [1]NASA Ends VIPER Project, Continues Moon Exploration
      NASAGovernment recordPublished 2024-07-17Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: history
      NASA stated cost increases, delays to the launch date, and the risks of future cost growth as the reasons to stand down on the mission.
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  3. 2020-06-11

    NASA CLPS task order for Astrobotic to deliver VIPER ($199.5 million)

    Government awardAstrobotic TechnologyWith VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover), National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationUSD 199,500,000 (official award record)

    NASA awarded Astrobotic $199.5 million to deliver the VIPER water-ice prospecting rover to the lunar south pole on its Griffin lander; NASA cancelled VIPER in July 2024 and Griffin Mission One continued without it.

    Sources (2) and evidence gaps
    1. [1]NASA Selects Astrobotic to Fly Water-Hunting Rover to the Moon (release 20-063)
      NASAGovernment recordPublished 2020-06-11Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: amount, date, counterparty id
      NASA has awarded Astrobotic of Pittsburgh $199.5 million to deliver NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) to the Moon's South Pole in late 2023.
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
    2. [2]NASA Ends VIPER Project, Continues Moon Exploration (release 24-094)
      NASAGovernment recordPublished 2024-07-17Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: summary
      Astrobotic will continue its Griffin Mission One within its contract with NASA, working toward a launch scheduled for no earlier than fall 2025. The landing without VIPER will provide a flight demonstration of the Griffin lander and its engines.
      Quote matched the source text when accessed.
    • Whether the task-order value was modified after VIPER's removal is not stated.

Open evidence gaps

  • Whether NASA has exercised the delivery option under task order CS-7 after its September 2025 announcement has not been established from the primary pages reviewed.

Record history

changes to this record's facts, newest first

ChangedFieldWasNowReasonSource
2025-09-19phaseCancelledIn developmentSource update[2]
2025-09-19participants.carrierorg-astrobotic (Griffin lander, CLPS)org-blue-origin (Blue Moon MK1, task order CS-7)Source update[2]
2024-07-17phaseIn developmentCancelledSource update[1]
2024launch date2024 (late)2025-09 (rover readiness)Schedule slip[6]
2022launch date2023 (late)2024 (late)Schedule slip[1]

Sources

6 sources
  1. [1]NASA Ends VIPER Project, Continues Moon Exploration
    NASAGovernment recordPublished 2024-07-17Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: history
    NASA stated cost increases, delays to the launch date, and the risks of future cost growth as the reasons to stand down on the mission.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  2. [2]NASA Selects Blue Origin to Deliver VIPER Rover to Moon's South Pole
    NASAGovernment recordPublished 2025-09-19Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: phase, launch date, participants, host mission id, history
    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.
  3. [3]NASA Selects Blue Origin to Deliver VIPER Rover to Moon's South Pole
    NASAGovernment recordPublished 2025-09-19Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: phase, status basis
    NASA will make the decision to exercise that option after the execution and review of the base task and of Blue Origin's first flight of the Blue Moon MK1 lander.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  4. [4]VIPER
    NASA ScienceGovernment recordAccessed 2026-09-25Supports: target site, participants, phase
    On September 19, 2025, NASA announced that VIPER and its instruments will be delivered to Mons Mouton by a Blue Origin Blue Moon MK-1 lander as part of task order CS-7.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  5. [5]NASA Awards Initial Moon Base Rover and Lander Contracts
    SpacePolicyOnline.comPressPublished 2026-05-26Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: launch date, phase
    It's now expected to launch on Blue Origin's second MK1 mission next year.
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.
  6. [6]NASA Ends VIPER Project, Continues Moon Exploration
    NASAGovernment recordPublished 2024-07-17Accessed 2026-09-25Supports: history
    additional schedule and supply chain delays pushed VIPER's readiness date to September 2025
    Quote matched the source text when accessed.