NASA is seeking partnership proposals from US companies to advance plans of securing a public/private partnership and land and operate NASA’s VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) mission on the Moon.
As part of NASA’s Artemis campaign, instruments on VIPER will demonstrate US industry’s ability to search for ice on the lunar surface and collect science data.
This new announcement comes after NASA issued a Request for Information last August to seek interest from American companies and institutions in conducting a mission using the agency’s VIPER Moon rover after the program was cancelled in July 2024.
“Moving forward with a VIPER partnership offers NASA a unique opportunity to engage with the private sector,” said NASA’s Nicky Fox. “Such a partnership provides the opportunity for NASA to collect VIPER science that could tell us more about water on the Moon, while advancing commercial lunar landing capabilities and resource prospecting possibilities.”
Any partnership would work under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement. This type of partnership allows both NASA and an industry partner to contribute services, technology, and hardware to the collaboration.
As part of an agreement, NASA would contribute the existing VIPER rover as-is. Potential partners would need to arrange for the integration and successful landing of the rover on the Moon, conduct a science/exploration campaign, and disseminate VIPER-generated science data. The partner may not disassemble the rover and use its instruments or parts separately from the VIPER mission. NASA’s selection approach will favour proposals that enable data from the mission’s science instruments to be shared openly with anyone who wishes to use it.
“Being selected for the VIPER partnership would benefit any company interested in advancing their lunar landing and surface operations capabilities,” said NASA’s Joel Kearns. “This solicitation seeks proposals that clearly describe what is needed to successfully land and operate the rover and invites industry to propose their own complementary science goals and approaches. NASA is looking forward to partnering with US industry to meet the challenges of performing volatiles science in the lunar environment.”
The Announcement for Partnership Proposal contains proposal instructions and evaluation criteria for a new Lunar Volatiles Science Partnership. Responses are due by February 20, 2025.
After evaluating submissions, any selections by the agency will require respondents to submit a second, more detailed, proposal. NASA is expected to make a decision on the VIPER mission mid-year.
