NASA is meticulously evaluating the ideal landing site for its next crewed Moon mission and future base camp. The location must ensure reliable sunlight access for power while positioning astronauts near vital water ice sources.
NASA's Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon as early as 2024. While the incoming Biden administration may extend this timeline by a year or two, preparations continue unabated. Among the key challenges is selecting the landing site, a decision complicated by the program's unique requirements.
One certainty stands out: landings will occur at the lunar south pole. This region harbors a critical resource—frozen water—essential for Artemis science goals. This water could sustain crews or produce rocket fuel.
With such a vast area, planners must weigh multiple criteria.
Mission teams are assessing candidate sites for landings and base camps, prioritizing balance. As detailed in NASA's recent update, the spot needs abundant sunlight to energize the camp, straightforward access to water ice-rich zones, and minimal temperature swings.
The Moon's dramatic topography offers promise. NASA targets impact crater rims near the south pole.
These elevated positions capture near-constant sunlight. The Moon's minimal 1.5-degree axial tilt keeps the Sun low and steady for polar observers. As NASA describes: "If a person stood on a hill near the lunar south pole during the day, at any time of the year, they would see the Sun move across the horizon, brushing the surface like a flashlight on a table."
Crater rims also provide paths to shadowed interiors where water ice persists. The precise rim awaits final selection.
The landing site must be separated from the base camp. Lander thrusters kick up dust and rocks, while propellants contaminate nearby areas. Thus, habitats and solar arrays require at least 800 meters clearance from the pad.
Additionally, the site should face Earth for seamless communication with mission control.
