hmmm NASA spending logic ?

[3roomlab]

So cancelling it saves $84million
but they need to send a test mass instead ?
how does it work ?
 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/17/science/nasa-viper-moon-rover-canceled.html

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/nasa-cancels-viper-moon-mission-after-spending-450-million-to-build-a-rover-180984744/

[10maurycy10]

Why not use a totally-not-a-rover rover shaped test mass? It's better if the thing is unfinished, because it will not be a functional rover, at least not by the specifications, but might still be usefull.

[Psi]

Sometimes NASA will cancel something for budget reasons that they know will cause an outcry, or threaten to cancel it.
Even when they have other options to save the money required to not cancel that thing.

They know if they cancel something important the outcry will likely trigger a boost in funding just to save that thing.
It's all politics and methods to get as much funding as they can.

It can of course backfire though.

In this case though, it looks like it was all contract based, it went too far over budget and triggered a cancellation.