New Delhi:
The National Aeronautics Space Agency (NASA) has shortlisted nine potential landing sites near the moon's south pole for the upcoming Artemis III mission. This is the American space agency's first manned moon landing in more than fifty years. These sites will undergo thorough scientific and engineering reviews, and NASA plans to continue exploring other areas for future missions beyond this selection.
The nine proposed lunar landing areas near the South Pole are:
- Peak near Cabeus B
- Haworth
- Malapert Massif
- The Mons Mouton plateau
- Mons Mouton
- Nobile Rim 1
- Nobile Rim 2
- the Gerlache Rim 2
- Slater Plain
According to NASA, each of these nine locations offers the chance to gain vital information about rocky planets, lunar resources and the broader history of the solar system. The moon's south pole, which has not yet been explored by manned missions, has permanently dark areas that may contain vital resources such as water.
Lakiesha Hawkins, assistant deputy administrator, Moon to Mars Program Office, NASA, said: “Artemis will return humanity to the moon and visit undiscovered areas. NASA's selection of these regions demonstrates our commitment to landing the crew safely near the moon's south pole, where they will help discover new scientific discoveries and learn to live on the lunar surface.”
Sarah Noble, Artemis's chief of lunar science at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said the moon's south pole is a “completely different environment” than where the landing took place during the Apollo missions. “It provides access to some of the moon's oldest terrain, as well as cold, shady areas that may contain water and other compounds,” Noble says.
To determine these locations, a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers analyzed the moon's south pole, using data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and extensive lunar science research. Key considerations in their assessment included scientific potential, availability of the launch window, suitability of terrain, communications links with Earth and lighting conditions.
“Artemis III will mark the first time astronauts will land on the moon's south polar region,” said Jacob Bleacher, NASA's principal investigator.
The final selection of specific landing sites for Artemis III will occur after NASA determines the mission's launch dates, which will impact transfer trajectories and lunar surface conditions.