December 23, 2024

NASA’s VIPER Rover Braces for Ultimate Space Challenge

By Dan Andrews, NASA May 19, 2024An artists idea of the completed style of NASAs Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover, or VIPER. Credit: NASA/Daniel RutterNASAs VIPER group is not only building the rover for the Moons South Pole however likewise preparing for its environmental tests. These tests are designed to imitate the extreme conditions of area travel and lunar operation to make sure the rovers readiness for its mission.While NASAs VIPER team has been focused on building the flight rover that will go to the South Pole of the Moon, the team has also been making preparations for environmental testing of the rover.In April, the VIPER group passed a System Test Readiness Review, checking out the readiness of the facilities, treatments, and personnel to move into stress-testing the VIPER rover.Engineers check the VIPER rovers wheel movement and rotation in a tidy space at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston.