NASA cancels moon rover mission due to high costs, launch delays

WASHINGTON (WAM)

US space agency NASA said on Wednesday it will not send its rover to the moon after all, citing high costs and launch delays as reasons for the cancellation, German news agency (DPA) reported.

Dubbed Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover or VIPER, the project will be discontinued following a "comprehensive internal review," NASA said at a press conference.

The space agency said the decision to reconsider the project came amid escalating costs, potential future cost increases, and a launch date delay.

According to NASA, the rover was originally scheduled to launch in late 2023, but the launch had to be postponed to later this year.

After another delay, NASA had last anticipated that the launch would take place in September 2025.