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[Music]

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The future of human space exploration is being driven

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by what we can discover and accomplish on the Moon.

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And with NASA’s confirmation of ice 

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existing at the lunar South Pole,

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the critical task of finding and mapping where water exists,

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what form it is in, and where it came from, can now begin. 

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Leading us on that journey will be NASA’s first 

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mobile robotic mission on the Moon, known as VIPER –

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the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover.

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It will be delivered to the Nobile region of the South Pole

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as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative.

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This region sits just outside of the western rim of Nobile Crater,

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and covers an area of 36 square miles.

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As the first-ever resource mapping mission

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on the surface of another celestial body,

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VIPER will roam the surface equipped with

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three science instruments and a drill

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to detect and analyze various lunar soil environments

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at a range of depths and temperatures.

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The rover will venture into permanently shadowed craters,

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some of the coldest spots in the solar system,

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where ice reserves have been preserved for billions of years.

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NASA had four critical parameters

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when choosing a landing site for VIPER:

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available sunlight,

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Earth visibility for communications from the Moon to the Earth,

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data showing the potential presence of water

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and other resources,

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and terrain that is well-suited for VIPER to navigate.

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The area to the west of Nobile crater met these conditions.

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Once on the surface, VIPER’s mission will last 100 days

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and cover between 10 to 15 miles.

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And while a baseline traverse route through the Nobile region

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has been identified for the rover,

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the scientific discoveries VIPER makes along the way

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will actually influence where the mission team sends it next,

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so it’s planned route will most likely change.

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During its travels, VIPER will visit at least six locations

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where data suggest ice could be found.

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By helping determine the locations

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of where water and other resources exist, 

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VIPER’s findings will help pave the way

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for future landing sites under NASA’s Artemis program.

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The prospects of achieving a long-term human presence

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on our Moon never looked so bright.

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[Music fades]