LCROSS

NASA's Artemis Rover to Land Near Nobile Region of Moon's South Pole

Retrieved on: 
Monday, September 20, 2021

In 2023, NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) will land near the western edge of the Nobile Crater at the Moon's South Pole to map and explore the region's surface and subsurface for water and other resources.

Key Points: 
  • In 2023, NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) will land near the western edge of the Nobile Crater at the Moon's South Pole to map and explore the region's surface and subsurface for water and other resources.
  • The Moon's South Pole is one of the coldest areas in our solar system.
  • Data from these and other missions helped scientists conclude that ice and other potential resources exist in permanently shadowed areas of the Moon near the poles.
  • VIPER's currently planned trajectory allows the rover to visit at least six sites of scientific interest, with additional time to spare.