New Delhi: In preparation for the upcoming Artemis III mission, NASA has shortlisted nine potential landing sites located near the lunar South Pole. This mission marks the American space agency’s first crewed Moon landing in over 50 years.
The identified locations will undergo rigorous scientific and engineering assessments as part of the selection process. NASA plans to continue exploring additional areas for future missions beyond this initial selection.
The proposed landing sites include Peak near Cabeus B, Haworth, Malapert Massif, Mons Mouton Plateau, Mons Mouton, Nobile Rim 1, Nobile Rim 2, de Gerlache Rim 2, and Slater Plain.
In a post on social media platform X, NASA stated, “Our #Artemis III astronauts will land on the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. Where on the Moon are they landing? We are refining a list of nine areas near the lunar South Pole, a place we’ve never set foot on before.”
According to NASA, each of these nine locations presents an opportunity to gather vital information about rocky planets, lunar resources, and the broader history of the solar system. The lunar South Pole remains largely unexplored by crewed missions, featuring permanently dark regions that may contain crucial resources such as water.
Lakiesha Hawkins, assistant deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Moon to Mars Program Office, emphasized, “Artemis will return humanity to the Moon and visit unexplored areas. NASA’s selection of these regions shows our commitment to landing crew safely near the lunar South Pole, where they will help uncover new scientific discoveries and learn to live on the lunar surface.”