NASA’s rover will reach the moon’s south pole in 2023 to search for water and other resources – Observer

The US Federal Agency for NASA announced on Monday that the Volatile Investigations Polar Exploration Vehicle (VIPER) will land at the moon’s south pole in 2023 to search for water and other resources.

a NASA He said the mission site, part of the program Artemis, will be near the western edge of Nobile hole, where you will explore the surface and below the surface of the area.

The NASA team evaluated the rover’s viable paths, considering locations where VIPER could use its solar panels to charge and conserve heat during its 100-day journey.

“We are looking for answers to some very complex questions, and studying these features on the Moon that have stood the test of time will help us answer them,” said Anthony Collabrett, chief scientist for the VIPER project.

VIPER, which will be launched aboard a rocket Falcon Heavy Give SpaceX private companyYou will almost study the surface of the moon 93 square kilometers.

During the mission, NASA said, it will collect samples from at least three locations in carefully selected regions that will provide a greater understanding of a wide range of different types of lunar environments.

VIPER team will search for Analysis of ice properties and other resources Using sensors and rover digging on board the vehicle.

a Sample analysis A combination of depths and temperatures will help scientists better predict where else the ice might be on the moon based on similar topography, allowing NASA to map the resources.

The idea is to better understand the distribution of resources on the Moon and to document future manned missions to the lunar surface.

NASA explained that the file The Moon’s south pole is one of the coldest regions in the solar system.

“No previous lunar mission has explored this region,” he added.

Data from previous missions helped scientists conclude that ice and other potential resources exist in regions of the moon near the poles.

The data sent by VIPER will provide scientists all over the world “Greater Understanding of the Cosmic Origin, Evolution, and History of Our Moon”said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for science at NASA.