NASA to deploy VIPER rover to search for water ice on the moon

The Viper Rover, about the size of a golf cart, is set to explore the Moon's South Pole in 2022. It will collect data for 100 days using a neutron spectrometer to detect subsurface areas of interest. Once detected, Viper will use a 1-meter drill to collect samples for analysis by onboard instruments, M SOLO and NERVES. The mission aims to understand how different soil environments are affected by sunlight and temperature, helping NASA map potential water sources on the Moon.

In what ways will Viper gather data about the Moon's soil environments?

What potential findings could the data collected by Viper reveal about water on the Moon?