NASA has awarded a Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) task order to Blue Origin that includes an option to deliver the agency’s VIPER rover to the Moon’s South Pole, advancing U.S. efforts to establish a long-term presence under the Artemis campaign.
The order, valued at up to $190 million, requires Blue Origin to design payload-specific accommodations and demonstrate how its Blue Moon Mark 1 robotic lander can deploy the rover safely to the lunar surface. A decision on exercising the option will be made once NASA reviews the company’s first MK1 flight and performance under the base contract.
If deployed, VIPER – short for Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover – will spend about 100 days surveying permanently shadowed regions in search of water ice and other volatiles. The data is expected to help identify potential astronaut landing sites, guide resource utilization strategies, and contribute to understanding the role of lunar volatiles in solar system evolution.
The new award marks the second CLPS lunar delivery contract for Blue Origin. The company’s first MK1 mission, scheduled for launch later this year, is intended to deliver scientific instruments to the Moon’s South Pole region.
Under the arrangement, Blue Origin is responsible for the complete mission architecture, including lander design, analysis, integration and deployment. NASA’s Ames Research Center will lead science investigations, with engineering support from the Johnson Space Center.
The VIPER mission is targeted for late 2027, aligning with a science window that requires timely landing to achieve research objectives. The approach is intended to reduce costs and technical risks by relying on commercial partners while expanding the U.S. commercial space sector.
Source: NASA