Look for Lunar Missions: Check for upcoming lunar missions or projects that involve sending robotic lunar rovers.
Attendees have the option to generate and save a digital memento, such as a personalized VIPER mission boarding pass, as a lasting keepsake of their participation.
NASA has extended an invitation for individuals to dispatch their names to the Moon’s surface aboard the agency’s inaugural robotic lunar rover, VIPER, which stands for Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover.
As part of the “Send Your Name with VIPER” initiative, participants have until 11:59 pm EST on March 15 to submit their names through the provided link: nasa.gov/send-your-name-with-viper. Additionally, contributors have the opportunity to craft and download a virtual keepsake – a personalized boarding pass for the VIPER mission, showcasing their name and commemorating their involvement. Once gathered, NASA will affix these names to the rover.
VIPER’s primary mission is to explore the lunar South Pole, studying the Moon’s water and analyzing the environment where NASA intends to land the first woman and the first person of color as part of the Artemis program.
Nicola Fox, Associate Administrator of the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, expressed, “With VIPER, we are going to study and explore parts of the Moon’s surface no one has ever been to before – and with this campaign, we are inviting the world to be part of that risky yet rewarding journey.” Fox emphasized that names submitted will accompany VIPER as it navigates the challenging lunar South Pole terrain, collecting crucial data to enhance our understanding of the Moon’s history and the planned Artemis astronaut landing site.
Describing VIPER as a groundbreaking mission, Daniel Andrews, VIPER’s project manager at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, highlighted its role in expanding comprehension of lunar resource potential to support sustained human presence on the Moon.
Scheduled for late 2024, Astrobotic Technologies’ Griffin Mission One will transport VIPER to the lunar surface using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Relying on solar panels and batteries, VIPER will endure extreme temperatures and challenging lighting conditions during its approximately 100-day mission. The rover will power a suite of scientific instruments to collect data on lunar ice characteristics and concentrations, as well as other potential resources.
This initiative follows NASA’s past efforts, allowing people to send their names on journeys such as Artemis I, various Mars missions, and the forthcoming Europa Clipper mission.