The construction program for a new lunar rover has been canceled due to cost overruns and delays. It was announced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Development of the next-generation spacecraft, envisioned by the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (Viper), has cost 450 million dollars to date.

"Decisions like this are never easy, but in this case, the projected remaining expenses for Viper would have resulted in the cancellation or abort of many other missions", explained Nicky Fox, associate administrator for the agency's Science Mission Directorate US spacecraft.

The stop to the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (Viper) lunar exploration program represents a significant setback for NASA. The rover's launch was initially scheduled for 2023, but delays and rising costs have forced the commissioning of the spacecraft to be postponed. The latter would have explored the lunar south pole in search of ice, paving the way for manned missions of the Artemis program.