WASHINGTON - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced it is seeking proposals from United States companies for a Lunar Volatiles Science Partnership to support its VIPER [Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover] mission on the Moon as part of the Artemis campaign. The mission aims to demonstrate the ability to search for ice and collect scientific data on the lunar surface.
The announcement for the Partnership Proposal provides instructions and evaluation criteria for submissions, which are due 3 March 2025. Following an initial review, selected respondents must submit a more detailed proposal. NASA expects to decide on the VIPER mission this summer.
"Moving forward with a VIPER partnership offers NASA a unique opportunity to engage with the private sector," said Nicky Fox, associate administrator in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "Such a partnership allows 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."
Related: NASA gauges industry interest in using VIPER lunar rover for Moon missions
Under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, NASA will contribute the existing VIPER rover as-is., At the same time, potential partners are responsible for integrating it, ensuring a successful lunar landing, conducting a science and exploration campaign, and openly sharing the data collected. Partners may not disassemble the rover to use its instruments or components separately from the VIPER mission.
"Being selected for the VIPER partnership would benefit any company interested in advancing their lunar landing and surface operations capabilities," said Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration in the Science Mission Directorate. "This solicitation seeks proposals that clearly describe what is needed to land and operate the rover successfully and invites industry to propose their own complementary science goals and approaches. NASA is looking forward to partnering with U.S. industry to meet the challenges of performing volatiles science in the lunar environment."
NASA previously issued a Request for Information on 9 August 2024, seeking interest from American companies and institutions after the VIPER program was canceled in July 2024. The agency said any partnership would operate under terms that allow both NASA and its industry partner to contribute services, technology, and hardware to the mission.
Additional information is available at https://science.nasa.gov/lunar-science/volatiles-partnership/.
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