NASA Couldn’t Get Its Rover to the Moon, So Blue Origin Will Do It Instead

NASA Selects Blue Origin for Lunar Rover Delivery NASA has partnered with Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin to deliver the VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) to the Moon's surface in 2027. This decision comes after NASA's previous attempts to send the rover to the Moon were unsuccessful. The VIPER rover is a key component of NASA's Artemis program, which aims to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon. The rover will explore the lunar south pole, mapping the distribution and concentration of water ice, which could be a crucial resource for future Moon missions. Blue Origin's lander, called the Blue Moon, will be responsible for transporting the VIPER rover to the lunar surface. This partnership represents a collaboration between NASA and the private space industry, as the agency seeks to leverage commercial capabilities to achieve its goals. The successful delivery of the VIPER rover to the Moon will provide valuable data and insights that will inform future lunar exploration and resource utilization efforts.