# VIPER

> lunar rover

**Wikidata**: [Q73008169](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q73008169)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VIPER_(rover))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/viper

## Summary
VIPER (Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover) is a lunar rover designed to move across the surface of the Moon. Manufactured by the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center and operated by NASA, the rover is scheduled for service entry in November 2024. Its mission is focused on space exploration and resource mapping.

## Key Facts
- **Full Name:** Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover
- **Type:** Lunar rover (space exploration vehicle)
- **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- **Manufacturer:** Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (Houston, Texas, United States)
- **Service Entry:** Scheduled for November 2024
- **Official Website:** https://science.nasa.gov/mission/viper/
- **NSSDCA ID:** VIPER
- **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/11j0hy_fgw
- **Wikipedia Title:** VIPER (rover)

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary function of VIPER?
A: VIPER is a mobile robot designed to map water ice and other resources on the surface of the Moon. It is a key part of NASA's lunar exploration efforts.

### Q: When is VIPER scheduled to begin its mission?
A: According to NASA references provided, VIPER has a planned service entry date of November 2024.

### Q: Who built and manages VIPER?
A: The rover is manufactured by the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, and is operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

## Why It Matters
VIPER represents a critical step in sustainable space exploration, specifically regarding the Artemis program and future human missions to the Moon. By investigating lunar volatiles—specifically water ice—VIPER aims to provide the first comprehensive resource maps of the Moon's South Pole. This data is essential for determining the feasibility of using local resources to support human habitats and fuel further deep space exploration. As a mobile platform capable of traversing the harsh lunar terrain, it serves as a precursor to human arrival, identifying safe landing sites and scientifically valuable regions. Its development and operation mark a significant collaboration in robotic engineering and planetary science.

## Notable For
- **Lunar Water Mapping:** Specifically tasked with investigating and mapping volatiles like water ice on the Moon.
- **NASA's CLPS Initiative:** Associated with NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (as indicated by references to CLPS delivery).
- **Johnson Space Center Manufacturing:** Notably built in-house at NASA's Johnson Space Center rather than by a private contractor.
- **2024 Lunar Mission:** One of the few scheduled lunar rover missions planned for 2024.

## Body
### Development and Manufacturing
VIPER is a robotic rover constructed by the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, a NASA field center located in Houston, Texas. The center, established in 1961, employs approximately 3,200 people and serves as the primary hub for human spaceflight training, research, and flight control. As the manufacturer, the center oversaw the design and assembly of the rover to withstand the extreme conditions of the lunar surface.

### Mission Specifications
The rover is classified as a lunar rover, defined as a space exploration vehicle designed to move across the surface of the Moon.
*   **Service Entry:** November 2024.
*   **Mission Goal:** To map water ice on the Moon (as noted in the reference title "New VIPER Lunar Rover to Map Water Ice on the Moon").
*   **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

### Data and Identifiers
The project is tracked under various international identifiers and catalogs:
*   **NSSDCA ID:** VIPER
*   **Google Knowledge Graph ID:** /g/11j0hy_fgw
*   **Wikipedia Presence:** Available in multiple languages including English, Spanish, French, Russian, and Arabic.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Vehicle",
  "name": "VIPER",
  "alternateName": "Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover",
  "description": "A lunar rover designed by NASA to map water ice on the surface of the Moon.",
  "url": "https://science.nasa.gov/mission/viper/",
  "manufacturer": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center"
  },
  "vehicleType": "Lunar Rover",
  "additionalType": "Space Exploration Vehicle"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/feature/new-viper-lunar-rover-to-map-water-ice-on-the-moon)
2. [Source](https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-replans-clps-delivery-of-viper-to-2024-to-reduce-risk)