NASA is taking steps forward in lunar exploration by awarding Blue Origin a new contract to deliver its VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) to the Moon’s South Pole in 2027
This mission is part of NASA’s Artemis campaign, which hopes to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon and eventually enable a mission to Mars.
The VIPER Rover: A mission to unlock lunar resources
The VIPER rover is designed to explore the Moon’s South Pole region, a location of high scientific interest due to its permanently shadowed craters that may contain frozen water and other volatile resources. These resources could provide important information for long-duration missions, offering potential supplies of water, oxygen, and even fuel.
When the rover is on the Moon, it will operate for about 100 days and analyse the distribution and concentration of water ice. The data it gathers will help NASA identify locations where resources can be extracted and used to support human exploration. Understanding where and how water exists on the Moon provides insight into the broader history of the solar system.
Blue Origin’s second CLPS mission
The new task order was awarded as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, which partners with U.S. private companies to deliver science and technology payloads to the Moon. The total potential value of this contract is $190 million.
This is the second CLPS mission awarded to Blue Origin. The company’s first delivery, using its Blue Moon Mark 1 (MK1) robotic lander, is scheduled for launch later this year. That mission will deliver scientific instruments designed to study the effects of rocket plumes on the lunar surface and aid future landing system designs.
For the VIPER mission, Blue Origin will again use its Blue Moon MK1 lander, currently in production. The lander will carry the rover safely to the lunar surface and support its deployment. The company is responsible for the whole landing mission, including design, analysis, testing, payload integration, and post-landing support.
The task order, designated CS-7, initially funds design and engineering work to prepare the lander for VIPER’s specific needs. NASA will decide whether to proceed with the full delivery option after reviewing the success of Blue Origin’s first MK1 flight and the completion of this preliminary phase. This staged approach helps reduce technical risk and cost to the agency while leveraging private sector innovation.
Building a lunar economy
The VIPER Rover mission is part of NASA’s long-term strategy of partnering with American industry to build a commercial lunar economy.
By outsourcing delivery services to private companies like Blue Origin, NASA can focus its efforts on high-priority science goals and technology development.
NASA’s Ames Research Centre leads the development of the VIPER rover and will oversee its science operations, while Johnson Space Centre provided key engineering support. Along with Blue Origin’s delivery capability, these teams are working to lay the groundwork for sustainable lunar exploration.
With the launch scheduled for late 2027, the mission is expected to provide valuable data on the Moon’s environment and its hidden resources.