NASA begins building first robotic moon rover

engineers from NASA (United States Space Agency) continues its construction. Volatiles Exploring Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER)The first robotic lunar rover whose mission is to probe and study the Moon to better understand the origin and distribution of lunar water and other potential sources.

It is mounted on Johnson Space Center from NASA It’s in Houston and the first phase of assembly – the subframe plate and lower parts of the rover frame – has already been completed.

“We have just completed the first steps in integrating the components of the rover that will one day be on the surface of the Moon,” said David Petri, VIPER test and systems integration lead. “Hardware comes from all over the world, including some manufactured at various NASA centers. It’s really ‘go’ time.”

Software engineers at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley, California, continue to develop and test the rover’s “brain” before integrating it into hardware.

Engineers and technicians in the coming months, VIPERaddition of subsystems such as avionics, energy, telecommunications, thermal and navigation systems.

Once assembly is complete, the rover will undergo a series of functional, performance and operational tests to ensure it is mission-ready, followed by vibration, acoustic and thermal vacuum environmental tests.

Planned date for moon landing VIPER It was chosen on November 10, 2024 to optimize the amount of solar energy it can collect. The mission is expected to take 100 days.

If all goes well with the assembly, the rover will be delivered to: astrobotA Pittsburgh-based aerospace company, mid-2024. It will reach the lunar surface through the initiative Commercial Lunar Load Services from NASAon a rocket Falcon Heavyproduced by SpaceX.