Finding valuable resources beyond Earth is crucial for planning a permanent base for humans. The Moon could be such a possible destination. NASA is preparing to send astronauts to the Moon by 2024. But before that, the agency will send a rover to find water on the lunar surface. The rover will be launched in 2023. Water is among other valuable resources that are required for survival. NASA said that the mission will be very crucial in taking the first step in making its idea of exoplanetary colonization a reality. NASA’s plan is to send a rover to the South Pole. It will search for water. It is a fact that the Moon hosts water in good quantities in the north and south poles. But the problem is that water is not in liquid form.
The US space agency said that the mission’s objective is to find water in different states on the Moon. Besides, it will also look for hydrogen molecules. Scientists want to understand the form of water and its distribution on the surface. They also want to know exactly where to look for water when humans travel to the Moon. It will be a VIPER Mission. It will use NSS technology to look for water molecules. It will conduct searches beneath nearly a meter. It will be NASA’s first autonomous VIPER Mission to the moon. Moon doesn’t have its own atmosphere. Therefore, the weather conditions are extreme on its surface. NASA said that the rover will be designed to survive hot and cold temperatures.
NASA said that VIPER will follow a road map as it will travel on the lunar surface. The agency is working to develop a lunar road map. This will guide the rover to remain on a path and avoid challenges it will face. VIPER will be powered with solar energy. It will carry a rocker-bogie suspension system. The rover will have the capability to move in any direction. Its four wheels can be steered independently. NASA will study the lunar surface to find water and more as it prepares for returning humans to the Moon after five decades. NASA aims to land two astronauts including the first woman Moon under its Artemis program.
