U.S. space agency NASA said on Thursday it will not send its rover to the moon after all, citing high costs and launch delays as reasons for the cancellation.
NASA announced during a news conference that the project known as Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) will be terminated following an extensive internal review.
The decision to reassess the project was prompted by increasing costs, anticipated future cost escalations, and delays in the planned launch date.
NASA had initially planned to launch the rover in late 2023, but due to delays, the launch had to be postponed to later this year.
After facing another delay, NASA’s most recent projection was for the launch to occur in September 2025.
The VIPER robot was poised to roam the moon’s South Pole, gathering soil samples with a drill.
The launch was planned to be carried out with assistance from the private space company Astrobotic.
NASA said that the rover would now be dismantled and the parts used elsewhere.
“Our path forward will make maximum use of the technology and work that went into VIPER while preserving critical funds to support our robust lunar portfolio,” NASA manager Nicola Fox said.