NASA officials announced on June 30, 2026, that they are considering sending the full-scale engineering model of the Perseverance rover, currently located at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, to the Moon. The rover, nicknamed 'Promise,' is designed as a testbed for Perseverance and was not originally planned for launch. It would be equipped with a multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG) to enable it to navigate challenging terrain and survive the lunar night, unlike NASA's other rovers that rely on solar power. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stated, 'We are thinking very hard right now about sending Promise to the Moon' during a recent update on the agency's lunar base plans.
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NASA Considers Sending Backup Mars Rover to the Moon
NASA is exploring the possibility of sending the engineering model of the Perseverance rover, known as 'Promise,' to the Moon. This rover would utilize a nuclear power source to operate in the Moon's challenging environment, marking a shift from the solar-powered rovers previously used by the agency.
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NASA may send a backup, nuclear-powered Mars rover to the Moon
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NASA Considers Sending Backup Mars Rover to the Moon