NASA's VIPER rover offers opportunity to send your name to the Moon
text_fields
NASA has initiated an extraordinary opportunity for the public to etch their names onto the lunar surface through the "Send Your Name with VIPER" campaign.
It is accompanying the maiden voyage of the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER).
Scheduled to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket in late 2024, VIPER's primary objective is to explore the moon's south pole region, probing for water ice and valuable resources.
Participants can participate in this unique venture by submitting their names via NASA's dedicated website before March 15, 11:59 p.m. EST. These submitted names will be affixed to the rover, allowing them to journey across the uncharted territories of the lunar South Pole. Alongside this, NASA offers the chance to generate and download a virtual boarding pass, serving as a keepsake commemorating involvement in this historic lunar mission.
Highlighting the significance of this lunar exploration, Nicola Fox, Associate Administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, emphasised the pioneering nature of VIPER's mission. She said, "With VIPER, we are going to study and explore parts of the Moon's surface no one has ever been to before - and with this campaign, we are inviting the world to be part of that risky yet rewarding journey."
Moreover, Fox underscored the invaluable nature of this endeavour, noting how names etched onto VIPER will accompany the rover as it navigates the rugged lunar landscape, gathering critical data crucial to unravelling the Moon's history and supporting future Artemis missions.
The "Send Your Name with VIPER" website not only facilitates the submission of names but also offers the opportunity to generate and download a virtual boarding pass, allowing participants to retain a digital memento of their involvement in this significant lunar exploration initiative.
VIPER, an integral part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative within the Artemis program, is slated for a late 2024 deployment on the lunar surface. Tasked with a mission duration of approximately 100 days, VIPER aims to conduct comprehensive research on lunar ice and potential resources.
Daniel Andrews, VIPER's project manager at NASA's Ames Research Center, highlighted the rover's groundbreaking role in expanding humanity's understanding of lunar resources. "Our VIPER is a game-changer. It's the first mission of its kind, expanding our understanding of where lunar resources could be harvested to support a long-term human presence on the Moon," Andrews emphasised, underscoring the mission's pioneering significance.
