NASA says a billion-dollar bill for a recycled Moon rover is simply too high

Date:
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 23:20:00 +0000

Description:
NASA's proposed PROMISE Moon rover could cost up to $1.33 billion despite plans to reuse existing Mars rover engineering hardware.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Recycled Mars rover hardware
may still cost NASA more than expected PROMISE faces mounting questions over unexpectedly high development and integration costs Existing rover hardware cannot eliminate costly engineering and certification requirements NASA's long-term lunar exploration program includes robotic missions requiring specialized vehicles capable of carrying scientific instruments across the Moon.

One proposed mission involves sending the Polar Rover for Observation, Mapping, and In-Situ Exploration (PROMISE), a robotic Moon rover, to conduct scientific investigations on the lunar surface. According to NASA, the proposal to build the rover from recycled Mars rover engineering hardware could become too expensive after estimates reached between $723 million and $1.33 billion. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Reusing existing rover hardware does not eliminate major mission costs Instead of building the Moon rover from scratch, NASA plans to combine engineering
models from the Curiosity and Perseverance rover programs.

Although the concept relies on existing hardware, NASA says the expected
costs remain far beyond what the agency considers acceptable for such a mission. You may like NASA reveals more on its moon base plans and it seems the astronauts might have to assemble it all themselves, like a load of IKEA furniture NASA admits Voyager spacecraft code is still being maintained - but by who? NASA is working on an AI chip to help next-generation spacecraft
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The cost estimates were prepared by Casey Dreier, the Planetary Society's chief of space policy, after reviewing NASA's proposal for the planned lunar rover.

According to Dreier, the estimated total includes launch and landing costs ranging from $234 million to $320 million together with engineering expenses. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman did not challenge every figure within the estimate, but argued that launch and landing expenses would exist for any lunar mission.

Isaacman believes that it would be crazy not to take advantage of hardware taxpayers have already invested hundreds of millions of dollars in."

But, "If PROMISE costs even 20 percent of your low-end estimate, we simply will not fly it," he concluded. What to read next New US space robot with
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The proposal combines MAGGIE and OPTIMISM, engineering models developed to support testing for the Curiosity and Perseverance rover programs before
their Mars missions.

Those vehicles were built to help engineers test hardware performance, software functions, and driving activities under controlled conditions before operational spacecraft left Earth.

NASA originally considered the concept because using hardware that already exists appeared capable of reducing development costs. Recycled rover concept still requires major engineering work Engineers would still need to certify the hardware for launch because equipment designed for ground testing cannot automatically survive spaceflight and lunar operations.

Additional work would also involve adapting communications equipment and integrating NASA's available plutonium radioisotope power system into the redesigned lunar vehicle.

The engineering models currently support existing activities, meaning
removing them from those roles could affect testing work linked to other programs.

Dreier summarized the financial challenge by saying, "Regardless of whether one agrees with every estimate one thing is clear: PROMISE is far from a 'freebie.'"

The engineering models currently support existing activities, meaning
removing them from those roles could affect testing work linked to other programs.

NASA has not released its own detailed cost estimate for the proposed rover; therefore, the project's overall financial viability remains under wraps.

That said, its future will likely depend on whether engineers can reduce
costs while overcoming technical challenges involved in converting
Earth-based test hardware.

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