NASA has tapped Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, for another major lunar mission under its Artemis programme, awarding it a potential $190 million contract to deliver a rover to the Moon’s South Pole by late 2027.

The Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) will hunt for water ice and other volatile resources beneath the lunar surface, data which could help shape future missions to both the Moon and Mars.

“This delivery is one of many ways we’re leveraging US industry to support a long-term American presence on the lunar surface,” said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy. He noted the mission will probe permanently shadowed regions, offering crucial insights into potential astronaut landing zones and strategies for long-duration stays.

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