NASA's VIPER Mission: Real-time Collaborative Science Operations at the South Pole of the Moon
NASA’s VIPER lunar-rover is being planned as humanity’s first resource mapping mission on another celestial body. The Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) will go to the South Pole of the Moon to get a close-up view of the locations that can sustain water ice - ice that could eventually be harvested to suport human exploration on the Moon, on Mars - and beyond. Dim-to-dark lighting at the South Pole and variable communication links to the Earth will require the VIPER team to steer the solar-powered rover away from advancing shadows while maintaining critical communications with Earth so that the team can optimize science return from the Moon. For the first time in NASA’s history, the science team will be fully integrated into the mission operations team and will provide near real-time input on where to explore on the Moon. As the Deputy Project Scientist and Science Operations Lead for VIPER, Dr. Lim will share the first-of-its-kind design of the mission’s Science Center and the plans for lunar exploration. VIPER science operations will set a foundation for NASA that will affect future missions to the Moon and Mars.
Dr. Darlene Lim is a research scientist at the NASA Ames Research Center.
Wednesday, 01/29/25
Contact:
Geoff MathewsWebsite: Click to Visit
Cost:
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