NASA Cancels Viper Rover Mission Over Costs and Delays

NASA announced it is cancelling its Viper moon rover mission, initially intended to search for water on the lunar surface. The decision comes in light of cost overruns and launch delays, the agency said on Wednesday.

The ambitious project, which aimed to explore the moon's south pole, was supposed to launch in late 2023 via a lander provided by Astrobotic Technology. However, increased expenses and additional testing have consistently postponed the mission, jeopardizing other initiatives.

Despite spending approximately $450 million on the Viper rover, NASA chose to reallocate resources to avoid further complications. The cancellation announcement precedes the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, highlighting NASA's ongoing commitment to lunar exploration. Astrobotic plans to proceed with its Griffin moon lander mission without the rover by the end of next year despite a previous failed attempt.

(With inputs from agencies.)