As Nasa plans to restart launching astronauts to the Moon, the American space agency has identified 13 potential landing sites on the lunar South Pole. These potential regions have been picked based on scientific objectives which drive the mission. More rugged than the lunar equator, the lunar South Pole has uncompromising terrain and crater-filled areas.
“The agency has identified 13 candidate landing regions near the lunar South Pole. Each region contains multiple potential landing sites for Artemis III, which will be the first of the Artemis missions to bring the crew to the lunar surface, including the first woman to set foot on the Moon,” Nasa said in a statement.
The 13 potential landing zones are:
Faustini Rim A, Peak Near Shackleton, Connecting Ridge, Connecting Ridge Extension, de Gerlache Rim 1, de Gerlache Rim 2, de Gerlache-Kocher Massif, Haworth, Malapert Massif, Leibnitz Beta Plateau, Nobile Rim 1, Nobile Rim 2 and Amundsen Rim.
Nasa said that the 13 landing regions are located within six degrees of latitude of the lunar South Pole. The areas collectively contain diverse geological features. These regions provide landing options for all potential Artemis III launch opportunities.
“Selecting these regions means we are one giant leap closer to returning humans to the Moon for the first time since Apollo. When we do, it will be unlike any mission that’s come before as astronauts venture into dark areas previously unexplored by humans and lay the groundwork for future long-term stays,” Mark Kirasich, deputy associate administrator for the Artemis Campaign said in a statement.
The regions have been chosen due to their proximity to the lunar South Pole. This is an area which scientists believe is abundant in resources and its terrain is unexplored by humans. The lunar South Pole is away from the sun and is perpetually shadowed.
The Artemis crew will collect samples and conduct scientific experiments that will yield important information about the depth, distribution, and composition of water ice that was confirmed at the Moon’s South Pole.
“Developing a blueprint for exploring the solar system means learning how to use resources that are available to us while also preserving their scientific integrity. Lunar water ice is valuable from a scientific perspective and also as a resource because from it we can extract oxygen and hydrogen for life support systems and fuel,” Jacob Bleacher, chief exploration scientist at Nasa said.
