NASA has released an updated list of nine potential landing spots near the lunar south pole for Artemis III – the mission that will hopefully see the first humans set foot on the Moon in over 50 years.
A return to the Luna has been an ambition for decades, and the Artemis program was named in 2019 before a 2022 decision to target the Moon’s south pole.
At that time, 13 potential sites were identified after NASA analyzed data collected by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). But, as the launch window was so far away, the space org decided to leave any further narrowing down for a later date. It was a smart move, given that the launch slipped from a planned 2024 aspiration to its current 2026 target.
Some of those original 13 sites remain on the latest list. They include: Nobile Rim 1, Nobile Rim 2, de Gerlache Rim 2, Malapert Massif, and Haworth.
New additions to the list also appear. Those are Peak near Cabeus B, Mons Mouton Plateau, Mons Mouton and Slater Plain. On the off chance you don’t possess encyclopaedic knowledge of lunar geography, a photo indicating these locations is below.
NASA on Monday explained that the new locations were chosen by “a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers” who used the data from the LRO as well as “a vast body of lunar science research.” That team also included several high-profile geologists who will receive the first ever samples from the south pole of the Moon.
The group evaluated landing sites based on science potential, launch window availability, terrain suitability, communication capabilities with Earth, and lighting conditions. Naturally, safety was another concern.
If successful, Artemis III will mark the first time astronauts have landed at the Moon’s south polar region. China and India have both landed probes in the region. India’s Chandrayaan-3 touched down last year, and China’s Chang’e 6 did likewise in June 2024.
The nine potential landing sites for Artemis III – Click to enlarge
The south pole is of interest as it is believed to house resources that could help to sustain a human presence.
Artemis III will see up to four people sent aloft by the Space Launch System, cruise on the Orion spacecraft, before two use the Starship Human Landing System to descend to the lunar surface for a visit expected to last around a week.
Up to four moonwalks are planned. NASA also plans to send a remotely controlled rover to Luna before the astronauts arrive, in the hope it can transport the moonwalkers to explore permanently shadowed regions.
“The Moon’s south pole is a completely different environment than where we landed during the Apollo missions,” explained Artemis lunar science lead Sarah Noble. “It offers access to some of the Moon’s oldest terrain, as well as cold, shadowed regions that may contain water and other compounds. Any of these landing regions will enable us to do amazing science and make new discoveries.” ®
