Resource Prospector (rover)
Resource Prospector is a cancelled mission concept by NASA of a rover that would have performed a survey expedition on a polar region of the Moon. The rover was to attempt to detect and map the location of volatiles such as hydrogen, oxygen and lunar water which could foster more affordable and sustainable human exploration to the Moon, Mars, and other Solar System bodies.
Engineering prototype of the Resource Prospector lunar rover undergoing tests | |
| Mission type | Reconnaissance, ISRU technology |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA |
| Website | www |
| Mission duration | 6 - 14 days (proposed) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft type | Lunar rover |
| Launch mass | 5,000 kg (11,000 lb) |
| Landing mass | 300 kg (660 lb) |
| Dimensions | 1.4 m × 1.4 m × 2 m |
| Power | 300 watts (solar array) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 2022 |
| Rocket | Falcon 9 Block 5 (suggested) |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral |
| Contractor | SpaceX (suggested) |
| Moon rover | |
| Landing site | Lunar polar region |
The mission concept was still in its pre-formulation stage, when it was scrapped in April 2018. The Resource Prospector mission was proposed to be launched in 2022. Its science instruments will be flown on several commercial lander missions contracted with NASA's new Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. The VIPER rover is developed as a successor of Resource Prospector.