NASA's VIPER mission, set to launch in November 2024, will feature the first-ever robotic moon rover and offers space enthusiasts the unique opportunity to have their names included on this historic lunar journey.
NASA is dedicated to engaging space enthusiasts globally, particularly aiming to inspire the younger generation in scientific fields. One aspect of this outreach includes offering individuals the opportunity to have their names included on spacecraft that are set to embark on exploratory missions across our solar system.
The upcoming chance to have your name carried on a NASA space mission is with the VIPER mission. This mission is notable for featuring NASA's first ever robotic moon rover.
Scheduled to launch later this year, VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) aims to investigate the South Pole of the Moon. This area, known for its permanently shadowed regions, is of significant scientific interest, particularly in the search for water ice. Discovering water ice could be pivotal for future human explorations on both the Moon and Mars, as it could provide a sustainable resource for human needs and potentially be converted into fuel for rocket launches from the Moon.
NASA's VIPER rover represents a pioneering mission as it will be the first to assess both the presence and the density of water ice and other resources. Its discoveries could revolutionize how we plan and execute extended missions in space.
If you want to send your name to the moon, you can do so by visiting a dedicated webpage set up by NASA. Here, you'll need to input your name and a PIN code, which will later grant you access to your boarding pass in anticipation of the VIPER mission's launch, presently slated for November 2024. Already, over 67,000 individuals have registered to have their names included in this lunar journey.
The VIPER mission is set to last for 100 days. During this time, the rover will traverse multiple miles, navigating crater edges and venturing into areas of permanent shadow. It will collect samples from a variety of lunar soils and environments along its path.
“VIPER represents the first resource mapping mission on another celestial body and will deepen our understanding of how frozen water and other volatiles are distributed on the moon, their cosmic origin, and what has kept them preserved in the lunar soil for billions of years,” NASA says on its website.
Initially planned for a November 2023 launch, NASA postponed VIPER to November 2024 to allow additional time for ground testing of Astrobotic's Griffin lunar lander, which is tasked with delivering the rover to the Moon's surface.
In the "Send Your Name with VIPER" initiative, NASA will be accepting names until March 15, 11:59 p.m. EST. After gathering these names, NASA will affix them to the rover.