NASA is testing the Lunokhod to search for water ice at the South Pole

National Aeronautics andUS space research has begun testing VIPER research apparatus, designed to search for frozen water on the surface of the satellite.

NASA is testing an all-terrain vehicle model, a littleresembling a golf car, in a special laboratory simulating conditions on the surface of the moon. This allows engineers to evaluate the grip of the wheels with the ground, the best options for overcoming steep slopes and the required power for various maneuvers.

The space agency planssend the lunar rover to the south pole, whereits task will be to analyze soil samples and search for water ice in the landing area of ​​the crew of the future Artemis mission. With the help of VIPER, researchers want to determine the exact location and reserves of resources in the region. This will help to understand how much water people can count on, and whether it will be enough to support life without supplies from Earth.

The exact launch date of the lunar rover has not yet been set, but preliminary landing on the south pole is planned for December 2022.

Last year, NASA already completed flighttesting a helicopter to explore Mars, and also announced plans to send a $1 billion drone to Saturn's moon Titan, which will search for signs of life.

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