NASA is continuing development of PROMISE, a six-wheeled rover with a nuclear power system, to explore the Moon's South Pole. The launch is scheduled for the end of 2028, and the company Blue Origin is to deliver it to the lunar surface, 3DNews reports
PROMISE will study the surface and subsurface layers of the Moon, assess available resources and look for suitable sites for future landings and the placement of infrastructure. The nuclear power system will allow the rover to operate during the long lunar night and in permanently shadowed regions where ice is thought to be present.
The rover will be equipped with a drill for collecting regolith from depths of up to one metre, spectrometers, temperature and radiation sensors, and cameras. The plan is to build the rover using spare flight components and engineering units from test versions of the Curiosity and Perseverance Mars rovers.
NASA has signed a $94 million agreement with Blue Origin, with an option for a further $140 million, to deliver PROMISE to the South Pole. As part of the first phase of building a lunar base, the rover will be transported and deployed using the Mark 1 lander.
At the same time, NASA is expanding its CLPS 2 commercial cargo delivery programme. It now includes eight companies that will be able to take part in future missions delivering scientific equipment and infrastructure elements to the lunar surface. The total maximum value of the 10-year agreement is $10 billion.
The agency also plans to develop lunar transport and energy infrastructure, including communications, power supply and wireless power transmission systems. According to NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, the first elements of the future lunar base should appear on the surface even before astronauts return there.
