NASA cancels its lunar mission, citing excessive costs and launch delays

WASHINGTON (AP) — NASA said Wednesday it is canceling its lunar rover in search of waterciting excessive costs and launch delays.

The Viper rover was expected to launch in late 2023 aboard a lander provided by Astrobotic Technologybut extra testing and rising costs have delayed the mission, threatening other projects, the space agency said.

The rover was intended to explore the moon’s south pole. About $450 million has been spent so far on its development, NASA said.

The announcement comes days before the 55th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission, which landed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon on July 20, 1969. NASA said it plans to study the presence of lunar ice through other projects.

Astrobotic still plans to fly its Griffin lunar lander – without a rover – by the end of next year. The company’s first lunar flight ended in failure in January, with a violent dive over the South Pacific.

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