NASA’s VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) is gearing up for an exciting new mission to the lunar South Pole. Its objective? To study the Moon’s water and gain a better understanding of the environment for future manned missions. But here’s the exciting part: NASA is inviting people from around the world to send their names to the Moon aboard VIPER through their “Send Your Name with VIPER” campaign.
Participants can simply visit the NASA website and add their names to be attached to the rover. As a reward, they will receive a virtual souvenir boarding pass featuring their name for the VIPER mission. The deadline to submit names is March 15, 11:59 p.m. EST, so there’s still plenty of time to get involved.
This unique campaign aims to make people feel a part of the exploration and encourage them to share their experience on social media using the hashtag #SendYourName. By involving the public in this way, NASA hopes to generate widespread excitement and interest in their lunar exploration efforts.
Scheduled for delivery to the lunar surface in late 2024 by Astrobotic Technologies’ Griffin Mission One, launching aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy, VIPER is set to face extreme temperatures and challenging lighting conditions during its 100-day mission. However, the rover is well-equipped to handle these conditions, reliant on its solar panels and batteries to power through.
The primary objective of VIPER’s mission is to gather crucial data about the characteristics and concentrations of lunar ice and other potential resources. This information will provide an invaluable resource for future missions to the Moon and serve as a stepping stone towards NASA’s goal of establishing a long-term presence on the Moon and eventually exploring Mars and beyond.
NASA’s VIPER project is managed by the Science Mission Directorate and executed through the Exploration Science Strategy and Integration Office. The rover hardware is designed and built by NASA’s Johnson Space Center, with instruments provided by NASA Ames, Kennedy Space Center, and commercial partner Honeybee Robotics.
By inviting the public to take part in this exciting lunar mission, NASA is fostering a sense of collaboration and is bringing us one step closer to achieving their ambitious goals in space exploration. So, don’t miss out on this opportunity to send your name to the Moon and be a part of history. Visit NASA’s website today and join the VIPER mission.
“Zombie enthusiast. Subtly charming travel practitioner. Webaholic. Internet expert.”