VIPER Mission
NASA's Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) was designed to map water-ice distribution on the moon's south pole.
In July, NASA canceled the mission due to delays and rising costs, despite the rover being fully assembled.
The cancellation disappointed scientists and raised concerns about losing competitive advantage to China's lunar program.
Significance of India's Space Program
India's successful lunar missions, like Chandrayaan-3, have placed it among a select group of countries with autonomous lunar landings.
India plans to launch Chandrayaan-4, a sample-return mission, indicating its commitment to advancing lunar exploration.
To compete effectively, ISRO requires increased resources and funding to undertake multiple flagship missions simultaneously.
Comparison with NASA's Situation
Unlike NASA's ability to manage multiple missions, ISRO typically handles one major mission at a time, limiting its responsiveness to new opportunities.
ISRO could have proposed a collaborative mission with Japan to fill the gap left by VIPER, focusing on similar objectives like water-ice prospecting
The VIPER cancellation highlights the need for India to strengthen its space program through better resource allocation, ensuring it can capitalize on emerging opportunities.
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