Key Takeaways
- NASA just published an updated list of potential Artemis III lunar landing sites.
- Once target launch dates are determined, specific locations within the nine areas will be chosen.
- The lunar South Pole will be investigated by a crewed mission for the first time.
NASA’s Cross Agency Site Selection Analysis team, in collaboration with industry and scientific partners, has released its most recent list of possible landing locations for the Artemis III Moon mission.
In no particular sequence, the updated websites are:
- Peak close to Malapert Massif Haworth and Cabeus B
- First and Second Nobile Rims
- Mouton Mons
- Slater Plain de Gerlache Rim 2 Mons Mouton Plateau
All nine of these possible landing locations are close to the lunar South Pole, which has never been visited by a crewed expedition. NASA states these locations will be “further investigated through scientific and engineering study” after each region was evaluated for its “science value and mission availability.”
In addition, the space agency intends to keep scouting possible locations in the lunar South Pole for missions beyond Artemis III, including regions not included in the nine listed, and determining whether they are suitable for Artemis V’s Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV).
Sarah Noble, the Artemis lunar science lead at NASA headquarters in Washington, stated that the continuously frigid, shaded regions of the lunar South Pole “may contain water and other compounds.” It encompasses some of the Moon’s oldest topography and is a completely different environment than the regions visited during the Apollo mission more than fifty years ago.
To choose these nine landing areas, a group of scientists and engineers evaluated information from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in addition to in-depth lunar science studies. Communication capabilities with Earth, terrain suitability, research potential, lighting conditions, and launch window availability were all factors taken into account during the selection process.
Additionally, each region’s “scientific promise” was assessed by the Artemis III geology team. Sites in each region may offer valuable information on lunar resources, the history of our solar system, and our knowledge of rocky planets, NASA said.
To make sure possible landing locations are safe and accessible, NASA also considered the combined trajectory capabilities of the Starship HLS, Orion Spacecraft, and its Space Launch System rocket.
Finding the ideal sites for such a momentous occasion “begins with identifying safe places for the first landing,” according to Jacob Bleacher, NASA’s top exploration scientist.
NASA intends to “lay the groundwork for long-term scientific exploration at the Moon” with its Artemis program, which will include sending the first woman, first person of color, and first “international partner astronaut” to the moon.
