This National Aeronautics and Space Administration Request for Information (RFI) does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that NASA will take action in this matter. Note: This RFI is for US domestic entities only. Interest from international government agencies or other international entities will be addressed in direct conversations with NASA Headquarters. International inquiries should be directed to the POC in Section 6. 1. Summary NASA is seeking interest from the US communities in partnering with NASA to conduct a Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) mission on the Moon that addresses some or all of NASA’s science objectives for VIPER, and could include other NASA exploration objectives, as well as any partner objectives. NASA would contribute the existing VIPER rover as is. Partner(s) would start with the existing VIPER rover and be expected to complete any remaining systems level testing, arrange for the integration and successful landing on the Moon, conduct a science/exploration campaign, and openly disseminate science data. U.S. domestically based partners would also be expected to provide other resources required to complete the mission from the hardware’s current state and to reimburse NASA for use of any NASA capabilities (including but not limited to any additional testing and anomaly resolution activities, payload preparation and processing support, or science/instrument/operations teams support) needed to successfully conduct the mission. The intent is that any partnership have minimal to no additional cost to NASA. If NASA chooses to pursue this path, partners may not disassemble and use instruments/parts of VIPER separately from a VIPER mission. 2. Background On July 17, NASA announced its intent to discontinue the VIPER mission due to overall Science Mission Directorate funding constraints, future budget risks, and lander delays. At that time, NASA requested expressions of interest from potential partners interested in conducting VIPER mission concepts that maximize value to the Agency through innovative mission ideas and arrangements. This RFI is the next step in that process, as several respondents asked for additional information about VIPER and about how to share their interest with NASA. The VIPER mission is designed to provide ground truth observations and insights into the composition, distribution, and quantity of volatiles at the Moon’s south polar region. VIPER’s mission is designed to last for 100 Earth days on the lunar surface while surviving on a full charge up to 50 hours of darkness and ~9 hours of operations/observations in Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs), areas of high probability for hosting water ice/volatiles. The fully complete rover is ~500kg, has a volume of ~1.5m x 1.5m x 2.0m, and has battery storage to complete several lunar day night cycles given strategic hibernation spots. The instruments on board VIPER include a neutron spectrometer (Neutron Spectrometer System (NSS)), a near-infrared spectrometer (Near InfraRed Volatiles Spectrometer System (NIRVSS)), a mass spectrometer (MSolo), and a drill system (The Regolith Ice Drill for Exploring New Terrain (TRIDENT)). A more detailed summary view of the VIPER rover, instruments, and science objectives, as well as a list of VIPER team capabilities, may be found under the "Attachments/Links" section of this notice. As of July 23, 2024, the fully assembled rover has successfully completed its vibration and acoustic test campaigns, resulting in completed launch qualification. The rover will be working through TVAC testing next and is expected to complete TVAC in October 2024. The following items identify a known but not an exhaustive list of potentially significant factors a proposing partner may want to consider in preparing a response to this RFI. The VIPER rover and its instrument suite are designed to receive commanding from Earth via direct-to-Earth communications. The VIPER rover moves autonomously though 4-6m position commands from the ground, avoiding obstacles along the way. The communication system is based on an X-band transceiver utilizing NASA DSN for DTE bi-directional transmission. Traverse commands are waypoints created from rover path planning based on near real-time imaging feedback and full system telemetry. A ground mission-ops, science, and traverse planning team, including rover engineers and instrument scientists, will be necessary to safely operate the vehicle and its instrument suite. The partner may request, on a fully reimbursable basis, NASA provide this existing expertise and/or ground mission-ops capabilities, for this uniquely-designed rover system. The VIPER rover system requires some low-impact periodic monitoring and maintenance to minimize capacity degradation over a long period of storage. The VIPER team has a plan for maintaining the rover while in storage, awaiting mission integration with a lunar delivery partner. NASA has authorized VIPER to continue through its planned TVAC test plan. However, pending TVAC test results and timing, it is possible the partner may need to ensure completion of any remaining post-TVAC systems-level performance confirmation. A selected partner shall assure all aspects of VIPER integration with the offeror’s lunar delivery system, and subsequent lunar delivery. The VIPER team expertise may be valuable in assuring a timely and accurate integration of the overall launch segment capabilities with the capabilities/requirements of the VIPER rover system. The VIPER rover vibration and acoustic qualification tests were successfully completed, per requirements established for the Astrobotic Griffin Mission-1 lander. A different VIPER lunar delivery system may require new analysis and additional testing. Additionally, the VIPER rover is designed for mechanical, electrical, and structural interfaces with the Griffin Mission 1 lander. Any partner will have to adapt to the existing VIPER side of the interface. 3. RFI Guidance This RFI is NOT a Request For Proposal (RFP), nor is it an Invitation for Bid. This RFI is being used to obtain information about realistic partnerships that may result in successful completion of some or all of VIPER’s core science mission, any additional NASA objectives, and complementary partner goals NASA does not intend to partner with responders who wish to disassemble VIPER and use its components/instruments outside of this VIPER partnership. The intent of this partnership is to achieve some or all of VIPER’s science objectives while also addressing additional partner primary objectives. The intent is that any partnership result in minimal to no cost to NASA. Funding will not be provided by NASA to partner(s). Responses to this RFI may not request substantial unreimbursed resources from NASA in order to complete the mission. Any requests to use NASA facilities or engineering, operations, or science teams must be accompanied by a plan to reimburse NASA for NASA expenses. This RFI is open to all US domestic interested parties including those who did not submit a previous expression of interest to NASA. Respondents may have international partners as members of the overall collaboration, but the lead entity must be a US entity. Any submitted information considered confidential or proprietary information shall be marked as such by the respondent. 4. Requested Information The response should contain the following information: A. A statement outlining the mission objectives of the partner(s) that motivate their desire to use the VIPER rover system, and how they complement NASA’s objectives. B. A statement explaining the degree to which some or all of NASA’s VIPER science objectives and any other NASA exploration objectives will be achieved under the partner’s plan, as well as other opportunistic value to NASA. C. List of all partner organizations associated with the respondent’s plan. D. Describe the suggested end-to-end concept for carrying out a VIPER mission with necessary details linking to the rover capabilities, science instruments, conops, and ground systems. E. Describe the suggested plan to deliver the intact VIPER rover onto the lunar surface to achieve the objectives described in Items A and B above. F. Describe the partnering team expertise, capabilities, and experience to complete items A, B, D, and E above. G. Describe what NASA resources may be needed and will be reimbursed. Describe what specific and minimal effort by NASA the partner is requesting be provided without reimbursement. H. Acknowledgement that science from NASA-developed instruments and VIPER performance data resulting from the mission shall be shared with NASA. Additionally, note that the science data produced by the NASA-developed instruments will be made publicly available by NASA. NASA will use the Planetary Data System in accordance with NASA open science policies that may be found under the "Attachments/Links" section of this notice. 5. Response Instructions All responses must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 2, 2024. Responses are limited to a maximum 10 pages in length using 12-point times new roman font, single space pages with one-inch margins. Please submit responses via email only to
[email protected] . Put “VIPER RFI Response” in the subject line. NASA will provide confirmation of RFI response submissions within one business day of receipt. If submitters do not receive this confirmation or for any RFI-related questions, contact
[email protected] and put “VIPER RFI Inquiry” in the subject line. 6. Points of Contact The following personnel are designated as the Points of Contact for this RFI. All inquiries shall be via email only to
[email protected] . RFI POCs: Brad Bailey, Ph.D. - Assistant Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration - ESSIO - Science Mission Directorate - NASA HQ Bo Trieu - Program Executive - Planetary Science Division - Science Mission Directorate - NASA HQ International POC: Rebecca Levy - Senior International Program Specialist - Office of International and Interagency Relations - NASA HQ