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==Science background==
==Science background==
{{main|Lunar water}}
{{main|Lunar water|Lunar resources}}
⚫
In February 1976 the Soviet lander [[Luna 24]] sent a sample of lunar soil to Earth, where it was found to contain about 0.1% water.<ref name="Geochemistry_eng">{{cite journal |last1= Akhmanova|first1= M|last2= Dement'ev|first2= B|last3= Markov|first3= M|date= 1978|title= Possible Water in Luna 24 Regolith from the Sea of Crises|journal= Geochemistry International|volume= 15|issue= 166}}</ref><ref name="Crotts_hist">{{cite arXiv |last= Crotts|first= Arlin|eprint= 1205.5597v1|title= Water on The Moon, I. Historical Overview|class= astro-ph. EP|date= 2012}}</ref> Data obtained by the [[Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter]], [[Chandrayaan-1]], and the [[Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite]], revealed that [[lunar water]] is distributed widely (if thinly) across the Moon's surface, especially within permanently shadowed craters in the [[Lunar south pole|south pole region]].<ref name="Soderman">[https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/nasa-looking-to-mine-water-on-the-moon-and-mars/ NASA Looking to Mine Water on the Moon and Mars]. By Soderman. NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Pieters | first1 = C. M. | last2 = Goswami | first2 = J. N. | last3 = Clark | first3 = R. N. | last4 = Annadurai | first4 = M. | last5 = Boardman | first5 = J. | last6 = Buratti | first6 = B. | last7 = Combe | first7 = J. -P. | last8 = Dyar | first8 = M. D. | last9 = Green | first9 = R. | last10 = Head | first10 = J. W. | last11 = Hibbitts | first11 = C. | last12 = Hicks | first12 = M. | last13 = Isaacson | first13 = P. | last14 = Klima | first14 = R. | last15 = Kramer | first15 = G. | last16 = Kumar | first16 = S. | last17 = Livo | first17 = E. | last18 = Lundeen | first18 = S. | last19 = Malaret | first19 = E. | last20 = McCord | first20 = T. | last21 = Mustard | first21 = J. | last22 = Nettles | first22 = J. | last23 = Petro | first23 = N. | last24 = Runyon | first24 = C. | last25 = Staid | first25 = M. | last26 = Sunshine | first26 = J. | last27 = Taylor | last28 = Tompkins | first28 = S. | first29 = P. | last29 = Varanasi | first27 = L. A. | doi = 10.1126/science.1178658 | title = Character and Spatial Distribution of OH/H2O on the Surface of the Moon Seen by M3 on Chandrayaan-1 | journal = Science | volume = 326 | issue = 5952 | pages = 568–572 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19779151| pmc = | bibcode = 2009Sci...326..568P }}</ref>


⚫
Data obtained by the [[Luna 24]], [[Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter]], [[Chandrayaan-1]], and the [[Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite]], revealed that [[lunar water]] is distributed widely (if thinly) across the Moon's surface, especially within permanently shadowed craters in the [[Lunar south pole|south pole region]].<ref name="Soderman">[https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/nasa-looking-to-mine-water-on-the-moon-and-mars/ NASA Looking to Mine Water on the Moon and Mars]. By Soderman. NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal | last1 = Pieters | first1 = C. M. | last2 = Goswami | first2 = J. N. | last3 = Clark | first3 = R. N. | last4 = Annadurai | first4 = M. | last5 = Boardman | first5 = J. | last6 = Buratti | first6 = B. | last7 = Combe | first7 = J. -P. | last8 = Dyar | first8 = M. D. | last9 = Green | first9 = R. | last10 = Head | first10 = J. W. | last11 = Hibbitts | first11 = C. | last12 = Hicks | first12 = M. | last13 = Isaacson | first13 = P. | last14 = Klima | first14 = R. | last15 = Kramer | first15 = G. | last16 = Kumar | first16 = S. | last17 = Livo | first17 = E. | last18 = Lundeen | first18 = S. | last19 = Malaret | first19 = E. | last20 = McCord | first20 = T. | last21 = Mustard | first21 = J. | last22 = Nettles | first22 = J. | last23 = Petro | first23 = N. | last24 = Runyon | first24 = C. | last25 = Staid | first25 = M. | last26 = Sunshine | first26 = J. | last27 = Taylor | last28 = Tompkins | first28 = S. | first29 = P. | last29 = Varanasi | first27 = L. A. | doi = 10.1126/science.1178658 | title = Character and Spatial Distribution of OH/H2O on the Surface of the Moon Seen by M3 on Chandrayaan-1 | journal = Science | volume = 326 | issue = 5952 | pages = 568–572 | year = 2009 | pmid = 19779151| pmc = | bibcode = 2009Sci...326..568P }}</ref>
⚫
Water may have been delivered to the Moon over geological timescales by the regular bombardment of water-bearing [[comet]]s, [[asteroid]]s and [[meteoroid]]s <ref>

Elston, D.P. (1968) "Character and Geologic Habitat of Potential Deposits of Water, Carbon and Rare Gases on the Moon", Geological Problems in Lunar and Planetary Research, Proceedings of AAS/IAP Symposium, AAS Science and Technology Series, Supplement to Advances in the Astronautical Sciences., p. 441</ref> or continuously produced ''in situ'' by the hydrogen ions ([[proton]]s) of the [[solar wind]] impacting oxygen-bearing minerals.<ref name="nasa2">{{cite web |url=http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/project/faq.htm#18 |title=NASA – Lunar Prospector |publisher=lunar.arc.nasa.gov |accessdate=2015-05-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914115221/http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/project/faq.htm#18 |archivedate=2016-09-14 }}</ref>
⚫
Water may have been delivered to the Moon over geological timescales by the regular bombardment of water-bearing [[comet]]s, [[asteroid]]s and [[meteoroid]]s,<ref>
The search for the presence of lunar water has attracted considerable attention and motivated several recent lunar missions, largely because of water's usefulness in rendering long-term lunar habitation feasible.
Elston, D.P. (1968) "Character and Geologic Habitat of Potential Deposits of Water, Carbon and Rare Gases on the Moon", Geological Problems in Lunar and Planetary Research, Proceedings of AAS/IAP Symposium, AAS Science and Technology Series, Supplement to Advances in the Astronautical Sciences., p. 441</ref> or continuously produced ''in situ'' by the hydrogen ions ([[proton]]s) of the [[solar wind]] impacting oxygen-bearing minerals.<ref name="nasa2">{{cite web |url=http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/project/faq.htm#18 |title=NASA – Lunar Prospector |publisher=lunar.arc.nasa.gov |accessdate=2015-05-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914115221/http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/project/faq.htm#18 |archivedate=2016-09-14 }}</ref> The water ice is unlikely to be present in the form of thick, pure ice deposits, but as thin coating on soil grains.<ref name='Jozwiak 2019'>"Mini-RF Monostatic Radar Observations of Permanently Shadowed Crater Floors." L. M. Jozwiak, G. W. Patterson, R. Perkins. Lunar ISRU 2019: Developing a New Space Economy Through Lunar Resources and Their Utilization. July 15–17, 2019, Columbia, Maryland.</ref><ref name="NozetteEtAl10">{{cite journal| title=The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Miniature Radio Frequency (Mini-RF) Technology Demonstration| last1=Nozette| first1=Stewart|last2=Spudis| first2=Paul| last3=Bussey|first3=Ben|last4=Jensen|first4=Robert|last5=Raney| first5=Keith|display-authors=etal| journal=Space Science Reviews| date=January 2010| volume=150|issue=1–4|pages=285–302 |bibcode = 2010SSRv..150..285N |doi = 10.1007/s11214-009-9607-5 }}</ref><ref name="NeishEtAl11">{{cite journal | title = The nature of lunar volatiles as revealed by Mini-RF observations of the LCROSS impact site | journal = Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets | date = 13 January 2011 | first = C. D. |last=Neish | author2 = D. B. J. Bussey |author3=P. Spudis |author4=W. Marshall |author5=B. J. Thomson |author6=G. W. Patterson |author7=L. M. Carter. | volume = 116 | issue = E01005 | page = 8| id = | url = http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2011/2010JE003647.shtml | accessdate = 2012-03-26| doi=10.1029/2010JE003647 | bibcode=2011JGRE..116.1005N }}</ref>

Water molecules ({{chem|H|2|O}}) can be broken down to its elements, namely hydrogen and oxygen, and form molecular hydrogen ({{chem|H|2}}) and molecular oxygen ({{chem|O|2}}) to be used as rocket bi-propellant or produce compounds for [[metallurgy|metallurgic]] and chemical production processes.<ref name='Anand 2012'/> Just the production of propellant, was estimated by a joint panel of industry, government and academic experts, identified a near-term annual demand of 450 metric tons of lunar-derived propellant equating to 2,450 metric tons of processed lunar water, generating US$2.4 billion of revenue annually.<ref name='Approach 2019'>[https://www.space.com/moon-mining-space-exploration-report.html Moon Mining Could Actually Work, with the Right Approach.] Leonard David, ''Space.com''. 15 March 2019.</ref>


==Science payload==
==Science payload==

Revision as of 16:12, 29 October 2019

VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover)
Artist's impression of the VIPER lunar rover operating in darkness
Mission typeReconnaissance, resource prospecting
OperatorNASA
Mission duration≈100 Earth days.[1][2][3]
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft typelunar rover
ManufacturerJohnson Space Center
Start of mission
Launch date2022 (planned)[1][2][4]
Rocket[to be determined]
Moon rover
Landing sitesouth pole region[2]
 

The VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) is a lunar rover by NASA planned to be delivered to the surface of the Moon as early as December 2022. The rover will be tasked with prospecting for lunar resources in permanently shadowed areas in the lunar south pole region, especially by mapping the distribution and concentration of water ice. The mission builds on a previous NASA rover concept called Resource Prospector, which was cancelled in 2018.[5]

Overview

Engineering prototype of the VIPER lunar rover undergoing preliminary mobility tests
Orbital survey of the Moon taken by the Moon Mineralogy Mapper instrument on India's Chandrayaan-1 orbiter. Blue shows the spectral signature of hydroxide, green shows the brightness of the surface as measured by reflected infrared radiation from the Sun and red shows a mineral called pyroxene.

The VIPER rover, currently under development, will have a size similar to a golf cart (around 1.4 m × 1.4 m × 2 m), and will be tasked with prospecting for lunar resources, especially for water ice, mapping its distribution, and measuring its depth and purity.[1][2] The water distribution and form must be better understood before it can be evaluated as a potential architectural element within any evolvable lunar or Mars campaign.[6]

The VIPER rover is part of the Lunar Discovery and Exploration Program managed by the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, and it is meant to support the crewed Artemis Program.[2] NASA's Ames Research Center is managing the rover project. The hardware for the rover is being designed by the Johnson Space Center, while the instruments are provided by Ames, Kennedy, and Honeybee Robotics.[2] The project manager is Daniel Andrews,[2][4] and the project scientist is Anthony Colaprete, who is implementing the technology developed for the now cancelled Resource Prospector rover.[7] The estimated cost of the mission is US$250 million.[3]

The VIPPER rover will operate at a south pole region yet to be determined.[1] VIPER is expected to rove several kilometers, to collect data on different kinds of soil environments affected by light and temperature—those in complete darkness, occasional light and in constant sunlight.[8][2] Once it enters a permanently shadowed location, it will operate on battery power alone and will not be able to recharge them until it drives to a sunlit area again. Its total operation time will be approximately 100 Earth days.[1][2][3]

Both the launcher and the lander to be used, will be competitively provided through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) contractors.[1][2][3] NASA is aiming at landing the rover as early as December 2022.[1][2][4]

Science background

Main articles: Lunar water and Lunar resources

Data obtained by the Luna 24, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, Chandrayaan-1, and the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite, revealed that lunar water is distributed widely (if thinly) across the Moon's surface, especially within permanently shadowed craters in the south pole region.[9][10]

Water may have been delivered to the Moon over geological timescales by the regular bombardment of water-bearing comets, asteroids and meteoroids,[11] or continuously produced in situ by the hydrogen ions (protons) of the solar wind impacting oxygen-bearing minerals.[12] The water ice is unlikely to be present in the form of thick, pure ice deposits, but as thin coating on soil grains.[13][14][15]

Water molecules (H
2O) can be broken down to its elements, namely hydrogen and oxygen, and form molecular hydrogen (H
2) and molecular oxygen (O
2) to be used as rocket bi-propellant or produce compounds for metallurgic and chemical production processes.[16] Just the production of propellant, was estimated by a joint panel of industry, government and academic experts, identified a near-term annual demand of 450 metric tons of lunar-derived propellant equating to 2,450 metric tons of processed lunar water, generating US$2.4 billion of revenue annually.[17]

Science payload

The VIPER rover will be equipped with a drill and three analyzers. The Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS), will detect sub-surface water from a distance, then, VIPER will stop at that location and deploy a 1 m (3 ft 3 in) drill called TRIDENT to obtain samples to be analyzed by its two onboard spectrometers: [2][3][18]

Instrument name Abbr. Provider Function[19]
Neutron Spectrometer System
NSS
NASA
 Detect sub-surface water from a distance, suggesting prime sites for drilling. It measures the energy released by hydrogen atoms when struck by neutrons. Originally developed for the Resource Prospector rover.[6]
Regolith and Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrain
TRIDENT
Honeybee Robotics
 1-m drill will obtain subsurface samples.
Near InfraRed Volatiles Spectrometer System
NIRVSS
 NASA's Ames Research Center Analyze mineral and volatile composition; determine if the hydrogen it encounters belong to water molecules (H2O) or to hydroxyl (OH-). Originally developed for the Resource Prospector rover.[6]
Sub-systems: Spectrometer Context Imager (a broad-spectrum camera); Longwave Calibration Sensor (measures surface temperature at very small scales).
Mass Spectrometer Observing Lunar Operations
MSolo
 NASA's Kennedy Space Center Analyze mineral and volatile composition. Measures the mass-to-charge ratio of ions to elucidate the chemical elements contained in the sample.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g NASA's VIPER lunar rover will hunt water on the Moon in 2022. Devin Coldewey, The Crunch. 25 October 2019. Quote: "VIPER is a limited-time mission; operating at the poles means there's no sunlight to harvest with solar panels, so the rover will carry all the power it needs to last about a hundred days there."
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l New VIPER Lunar Rover to Map Water Ice on the Moon. Sarah Loff, NASA. 25 October 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e NASA Will Launch a Lunar VIPER to Hunt Moon Water in 2022. Meghan Bartels, Space.com. 25 October 2019.
  4. ^ a b c NASA's VIPER rover will look for water ice on the Moon. Mariella Moon, ENGADGET. 26 October 2019.
  5. ^ Moon VIPER: NASA Wants to Send a Water-Sniffing Rover to the Lunar South Pole in 2022. Meghan Bartels, Space.com. 16 October 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Resource Prospector: Evaluating the ISRU potential of the lunar poles. Elphic, Richard; Colaprete, Anthony; Andrews, Daniel. 42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly. Held 14-22 July 2018, in Pasadena, California, USA, Abstract id. B3.1-14-18. July 2018.
  7. ^ NASA confirms plans to send prospecting rover to the moon. Jeff Foust, Space News. 27 October 2019.
  8. ^ New VIPER lunar rover to map water ice on the moon. Grey Hautaluoma and Alana Johnson. NASA. Published by PhysOrg on 28 October 2019.
  9. ^ NASA Looking to Mine Water on the Moon and Mars. By Soderman. NASA's Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute.
  10. ^ Pieters, C. M.; Goswami, J. N.; Clark, R. N.; Annadurai, M.; Boardman, J.; Buratti, B.; Combe, J. -P.; Dyar, M. D.; Green, R.; Head, J. W.; Hibbitts, C.; Hicks, M.; Isaacson, P.; Klima, R.; Kramer, G.; Kumar, S.; Livo, E.; Lundeen, S.; Malaret, E.; McCord, T.; Mustard, J.; Nettles, J.; Petro, N.; Runyon, C.; Staid, M.; Sunshine, J.; Taylor, L. A.; Tompkins, S.; Varanasi, P. (2009). "Character and Spatial Distribution of OH/H2O on the Surface of the Moon Seen by M3 on Chandrayaan-1". Science. 326 (5952): 568–572. Bibcode:2009Sci...326..568P. doi:10.1126/science.1178658. PMID 19779151.
  11. ^ Elston, D.P. (1968) "Character and Geologic Habitat of Potential Deposits of Water, Carbon and Rare Gases on the Moon", Geological Problems in Lunar and Planetary Research, Proceedings of AAS/IAP Symposium, AAS Science and Technology Series, Supplement to Advances in the Astronautical Sciences., p. 441
  12. ^ "NASA – Lunar Prospector". lunar.arc.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 2016-09-14. Retrieved 2015-05-25.
  13. ^ "Mini-RF Monostatic Radar Observations of Permanently Shadowed Crater Floors." L. M. Jozwiak, G. W. Patterson, R. Perkins. Lunar ISRU 2019: Developing a New Space Economy Through Lunar Resources and Their Utilization. July 15–17, 2019, Columbia, Maryland.
  14. ^ Nozette, Stewart; Spudis, Paul; Bussey, Ben; Jensen, Robert; Raney, Keith; et al. (January 2010). "The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Miniature Radio Frequency (Mini-RF) Technology Demonstration". Space Science Reviews. 150 (1–4): 285–302. Bibcode:2010SSRv..150..285N. doi:10.1007/s11214-009-9607-5.
  15. ^ Neish, C. D.; D. B. J. Bussey; P. Spudis; W. Marshall; B. J. Thomson; G. W. Patterson; L. M. Carter. (13 January 2011). "The nature of lunar volatiles as revealed by Mini-RF observations of the LCROSS impact site". Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets. 116 (E01005): 8. Bibcode:2011JGRE..116.1005N. doi:10.1029/2010JE003647. Retrieved 2012-03-26.
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference Anand 2012 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Moon Mining Could Actually Work, with the Right Approach. Leonard David, Space.com. 15 March 2019.
  18. ^ Lunar Exploration Science Objectives. S. J. Lawrence, NASA. 2019.
  19. ^ Where’s the Water? Two Resource-Hunting Tools for the Moon’s Surface. NASA. 10 March 2019.
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