Space and Tech
NASA Ends VIPER Project but Ensures Continued Moon Exploration
NASA ends the VIPER project but ensures continued Moon exploration, realigning resources to prioritize cost-efficient, innovative missions.
VIPER Project
In a groundbreaking announcement last Wednesday, NASA declared its decision to cease the development of the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) project. Citing escalated costs, scheduling delays, and the looming threat of further financial overruns, NASA has chosen to discontinue this ambitious lunar initiative. Initially set for a launch in late 2023, and later pushed to late 2024 for additional preflight testing, further impediments led to a projected readiness by September 2025. Notably, the corresponding CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) mission using Astrobotic’s Griffin lander has faced similar delays, setting both projects around the same timeline.
Despite this, Nicola Fox, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate Associate Administrator, reassured the public of NASA’s unwavering commitment to lunar exploration. Fox highlighted, “We are committed to studying and exploring the Moon for the benefit of humanity through the CLPS program. Our path forward will make maximum use of the technology and work that went into VIPER, while preserving critical funds to support our robust lunar portfolio.”
In an innovative pivot, NASA plans to disassemble and repurpose VIPER’s instruments and components for future lunar explorations. Before this happens, NASA will explore potential interests from U.S. industry and international partners who wish to utilize the existing VIPER rover system, reallocating resources effectively and mitigating costs.
Continuing under the vast umbrella of the CLPS program, the Astrobotic will advance its Griffin Mission One, targeting a launch not earlier than fall 2025. This phase will serve as a pivotal flight demonstration for the Griffin lander, setting the stage for future expeditions despite VIPER’s absence.
Further into NASA’s strategy, the Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1 (PRIME-1) remains scheduled to launch by the fourth quarter of 2024. PRIME-1’s objectives mirror many of VIPER’s goals, including verifying the presence of ice at the lunar South Pole. Equipped with a drill and mass spectrometer, this mission will study the volatile content beneath the moon’s surface, fostering continued scientific discovery and resource utilization.
Moreover, upcoming crewed missions promise to scale up lunar exploration. Instruments developed for VIPER will find new purposes in future landings, and the Lunar Terrain Vehicle will enable astronauts to traverse and study the Moon’s south polar regions more extensively.
As the lunar landscape promises new frontiers, NASA’s tactical repositioning from the VIPER project illustrates a keen balancing act between ambition and pragmatism. By reallocating resources of the VIPER, NASA ensures its commitment to lunar exploration remains robust and adaptive to the evolving challenges and opportunities of space exploration. The future of lunar exploration, fueled by unparalleled collaboration and technological innovation, continues to shine bright, promising profound insights and unprecedented possibilities for humanity.
This initiative also signifies a broader vision where collaborations with international space agencies and private aerospace companies will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the moon’s geology and potential resources. By focusing on sustainable and continuous lunar missions, NASA aims to lay the groundwork for eventual Mars expeditions, making the moon a critical stepping stone for interplanetary travel. The shift in focus from individual missions to a cohesive ecosystem approach underscores NASA’s foresight in advancing human presence beyond Earth. The advancements made in this realm could lead to revolutionary discoveries in various scientific fields, including astrogeology, astrobiology, and human physiology.
For more information about VIPER, visit:
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Last Updated on February 10, 2026 by Daily News Staff
Valerie Thomas is a true pioneer in the world of science and technology. A NASA engineer and physicist, she is best known for inventing the illusion transmitter, a groundbreaking device that creates 3D images using concave mirrors. This invention laid the foundation for modern 3D imaging and virtual reality technologies.
Beyond her inventions, Thomas broke barriers as an African American woman in STEM, mentoring countless young scientists and advocating for diversity in science and engineering. Her work at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center helped advance satellite technology and data visualization, making her contributions both innovative and enduring.
In our latest short video, we highlight Valerie Thomas’ remarkable journey—from her early passion for science to her groundbreaking work at NASA. Watch and be inspired by a true STEM pioneer whose legacy continues to shape the future of space and technology.
🎥 Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/P5XTgpcAoHw
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Every Friday, STM Daily News shines a light on brilliant minds history overlooked.
Forgotten Genius Fridays is a weekly collection of short videos and articles dedicated to inventors, innovators, scientists, and creators whose impact changed the world—but whose names were often left out of the textbooks.
From life-saving inventions and cultural breakthroughs to game-changing ideas buried by bias, our series digs up the truth behind the minds that mattered.
Each episode of The Knowledge runs 30–90 seconds, designed for curious minds on the go—perfect for YouTube Shorts, TikTok, Reels, and quick reads.
Because remembering these stories isn’t just about the past—it’s about restoring credit where it’s long overdue.
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Beneath the Waves: The Global Push to Build Undersea Railways
Undersea railways are transforming transportation, turning oceans from barriers into gateways. Proven by tunnels like the Channel and Seikan, these innovations offer cleaner, reliable connections for passengers and freight. Ongoing projects in China and Europe, alongside future proposals, signal a new era of global mobility beneath the waves.
For most of modern history, oceans have acted as natural barriers—dividing nations, slowing trade, and shaping how cities grow. But beneath the waves, a quiet transportation revolution is underway. Infrastructure once limited by geography is now being reimagined through undersea railways.
Undersea rail tunnels—like the Channel Tunnel and Japan’s Seikan Tunnel—proved decades ago that trains could reliably travel beneath the ocean floor. Today, new projects are expanding that vision even further.
Around the world, engineers and governments are investing in undersea railways—tunnels that allow high-speed trains to travel beneath oceans and seas. Once considered science fiction, these projects are now operational, under construction, or actively being planned.
Undersea Rail Is Already a Reality
Japan’s Seikan Tunnel and the Channel Tunnel between the United Kingdom and France proved decades ago that undersea railways are not only possible, but reliable. These tunnels carry passengers and freight beneath the sea every day, reshaping regional connectivity.
Undersea railways are cleaner than short-haul flights, more resilient than bridges, and capable of lasting more than a century. As climate pressures and congestion increase, rail beneath the sea is emerging as a practical solution for future mobility.
What’s Being Built Right Now
China is currently constructing the Jintang Undersea Railway Tunnel as part of the Ningbo–Zhoushan high-speed rail line, while Europe’s Fehmarnbelt Fixed Link will soon connect Denmark and Germany beneath the Baltic Sea. These projects highlight how transportation and technology are converging to solve modern mobility challenges.
The Mega-Projects Still on the Drawing Board
Looking ahead, proposals such as the Helsinki–Tallinn Tunnel and the long-studied Strait of Gibraltar rail tunnel could reshape global affairs by linking regions—and even continents—once separated by water.
Why Undersea Rail Matters
The future of transportation may not rise above the ocean—but run quietly beneath it.
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Space and Tech
Blue Origin Launches First Human Spaceflight of 2026 with New Shepard NS-38
Blue Origin successfully completed its first human spaceflight of 2026 with New Shepard NS-38, carrying six private astronauts and marking 98 humans flown to space.
Blue Origin has officially kicked off its 2026 flight calendar, successfully completing the 38th mission of its New Shepard program and further solidifying its role in commercial human spaceflight.
The suborbital flight, known as NS-38, carried six private astronauts beyond the Kármán line, offering several minutes of weightlessness and sweeping views of Earth before a safe return to West Texas. The mission marks the first New Shepard launch of 2026 and another milestone for Blue Origin’s reusable spaceflight system.
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The NS-38 Crew
The six-person crew aboard NS-38 included:
- Tim Drexler
- Dr. Linda Edwards
- Alain Fernandez
- Alberto Gutiérrez
- Jim Hendren
- Dr. Laura Stiles
With this flight, New Shepard has now flown 98 humans into space, representing 92 individual passengers. The growing total reflects Blue Origin’s emphasis on routine, repeatable access to space—once considered experimental, now becoming operational.
A Reliable Start to 2026
Blue Origin leadership emphasized reliability and customer trust as central priorities moving into the new year.
“As we enter 2026, we’re focused on continuing to deliver transformational experiences for our customers through the proven capability and reliability of New Shepard,” said Phil Joyce, Senior Vice President of New Shepard. “We are grateful for our astronaut customers who put their trust in our team to bring this experience into reality.”
The fully reusable New Shepard rocket and capsule system has demonstrated strong safety performance, autonomous operations, and consistent recovery—key elements in scaling human spaceflight.
Building Toward a Larger Vision
Beyond space tourism, New Shepard plays a foundational role in Blue Origin’s long-term goal of enabling millions of people to live and work in space for the benefit of Earth.
As the company’s first operational human spaceflight system, New Shepard supports:
- Reusable launch vehicle testing
- Human-rated safety system validation
- Increased launch cadence and manufacturing expertise
- Future Blue Origin programs and missions
Each successful flight expands operational confidence while helping normalize commercial access to space.
What’s Next for Aspiring Astronauts
Blue Origin continues to accept interest from future New Shepard passengers, with additional flights expected throughout 2026. The company also released commemorative merchandise from the NS-38 mission, now available through the Blue Origin Shop.
As commercial spaceflight matures, missions like NS-38 highlight the industry’s shift from novelty to normalcy—bringing space closer to scientists, explorers, and private citizens alike.
Related Articles & Information
- Blue Origin – New Shepard Program Overview
Official overview of Blue Origin’s reusable suborbital rocket and human spaceflight system. - Blue Origin – Human Spaceflight Missions
Details on past and upcoming crewed New Shepard missions. - NASA: Humans in Space
NASA’s overview of human spaceflight history and current programs. - Commercial Spaceflight: How Private Companies Are Changing Access to Space
STM Daily News coverage of the growing space tourism and commercial launch industry. - Reusable Rockets Explained: Why They Matter
An explainer on reusable rocket technology and its impact on space exploration.
For more updates, insights, and in-depth coverage of space exploration and commercial spaceflight, visit the STM Daily News blog at stmdailynews.com. From mission breakdowns to industry trends and technology explainers, STM Daily News keeps you informed about humanity’s journey beyond Earth.
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