In preparation for sending astronauts to the Moon as part of the Artemis program, NASA has identified 13 potential
“The choice of these regions means that we are one"A giant step closer to returning humans to the moon for the first time since Apollo," said Mark Kirasich, deputy associate administrator at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “When we do this, it will be unlike any previous mission as astronauts will venture into dark regions previously unexplored by humans and lay the foundation for future long-term stays.”
Each of these regions is located withinsix degrees of latitude from the South Pole of the Moon and together contains a variety of geological features. Together, these regions provide a landing opportunity for all potential Artemis III launch opportunities.
To select regions, a group of scientists and engineersThe agency has assessed the area near the Moon's South Pole using data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and decades of publications and results from lunar exploration. In addition to taking into account the availability of the launch window, the team evaluated regions based on their ability to provide a safe landing, using criteria such as the slope of the terrain, ease of communication with the Earth, and lighting conditions. To determine availability, the team also looked at the combined capabilities of the Space Launch System rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and the Starship human landing system provided by SpaceX.
All the regions under consideration have a scientificimportance due to their proximity to the Moon's South Pole, which is an area containing permanently obscured resource-rich regions and unexplored terrain.
“Some of the places in the regions are located amongof the most ancient parts of the Moon, and together with permanently shadowed regions, provide an opportunity to learn about the history of the Moon through previously unexplored lunar materials,” said Sarah Noble, head of Artemis lunar science at NASA’s Planetary Science Division.
The analysis team weighed other landing criteria withArtemis III's specific scientific goals, including the goal of landing close enough to a permanently shaded area to allow the crew to walk on the Moon while still limiting landing interference. This will allow the crew to collect samples and conduct scientific analysis in a no-compromise zone, which will provide important information about the depth, distribution and composition of the water ice found at the Moon's South Pole.
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