{"id":142681,"date":"2022-08-19T15:07:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-19T19:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-482253"},"modified":"2024-01-08T13:51:47","modified_gmt":"2024-01-08T18:51:47","slug":"nasa-identifies-candidate-regions-for-landing-next-americans-on-moon","status":"publish","type":"press-release","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-identifies-candidate-regions-for-landing-next-americans-on-moon\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA Identifies Candidate Regions for Landing Next Americans on Moon"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/artemis-iii-landing-regions.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1152\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/artemis-iii-landing-regions.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Shown here is a rendering of 13 candidate landing regions for Artemis III. Each region is approximately 9.3 by 9.3 miles (15 by 15 kilometers). \" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/artemis-iii-landing-regions.jpg 2400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/artemis-iii-landing-regions.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/artemis-iii-landing-regions.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/artemis-iii-landing-regions.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/artemis-iii-landing-regions.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/artemis-iii-landing-regions.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/artemis-iii-landing-regions.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/artemis-iii-landing-regions.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/artemis-iii-landing-regions.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/artemis-iii-landing-regions.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/artemis-iii-landing-regions.jpg?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Shown here is a rendering of 13 candidate landing regions for Artemis III. Each region is approximately 9.3 by 9.3 miles (15 by 15 kilometers). A landing site is a location within those regions with an approximate 328-foot (100-meter) radius. <strong>Credits: NASA<\/strong><\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Lee esta nota de prensa en espa\u00f1ol <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/press-release\/la-nasa-identifica-regiones-candidatas-para-un-alunizaje-humano\" rel=\"noopener\">aqu\u00ed<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As NASA prepares to send astronauts back to the Moon under Artemis, the agency has identified 13 candidate landing regions near the lunar South Pole. Each region contains multiple potential landing sites for Artemis III, which will be the first of the Artemis missions to bring crew to the lunar surface, including the first woman to set foot on the Moon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSelecting these regions means we are one giant leap closer to returning humans to the Moon for the first time since Apollo,\u201d said Mark Kirasich, deputy associate administrator for the Artemis Campaign Development Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. \u201cWhen we do, it will be unlike any mission that\u2019s come before as astronauts venture into dark areas previously unexplored by humans and lay the groundwork for future long-term stays.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA identified the following candidate regions for an Artemis III lunar landing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Faustini Rim A<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Peak Near Shackleton<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Connecting Ridge<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Connecting Ridge Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>de Gerlache Rim 1<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>de Gerlache Rim 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>de Gerlache-Kocher Massif<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Haworth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Malapert Massif<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leibnitz Beta Plateau<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nobile Rim 1<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nobile Rim 2<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Amundsen Rim<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Each of these regions is located within six degrees of latitude of the lunar South Pole and, collectively, contain diverse geologic features. Together, the regions provide landing options for all potential Artemis III launch opportunities. Specific landing sites are tightly coupled to the timing of the launch window, so multiple regions ensure flexibility to launch throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To select the regions, an agencywide team of scientists and engineers assessed the area near the lunar South Pole using data from NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter<\/a> and decades of publications and lunar science findings. In addition to considering launch window availability, the team evaluated regions based on their ability to accommodate a safe landing, using criteria including terrain slope, ease of communications with Earth, and lighting conditions. To determine accessibility, the team also considered combined capabilities of the Space Launch System rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and the SpaceX-provided <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/press-release\/as-artemis-moves-forward-nasa-picks-spacex-to-land-next-americans-on-moon\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Starship human landing system<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Artemis III Landing Region Candidates\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ocDzndmmE8I?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">NASA has announced the identification of 13 candidate landing regions near the Moon\u2019s South Pole for the Artemis III mission, the first crewed mission to the Moon\u2019s surface since 1972. This video features a data visualization showing the locations of all 13 regions, and highlights the interesting lunar topography and exploration potential of these areas. <strong>Credits: NASA\u2019s Goddard Space Flight Center<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>All regions considered are scientifically significant because of their proximity to the lunar South Pole, which is an area that contains permanently shadowed regions rich in resources and in terrain unexplored by humans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSeveral of the proposed sites within the regions are located among some of the oldest parts of the Moon, and together with the permanently shadowed regions, provide the opportunity to learn about the history of the Moon through previously unstudied lunar materials,\u201d said Sarah Noble, Artemis lunar science lead for NASA\u2019s Planetary Science Division.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The analysis team weighed other landing criteria with specific Artemis III <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/moons-south-pole-is-full-of-mystery-science-intrigue\/\" rel=\"noopener\">science objectives<\/a>, including the goal to land close enough to a permanently shadowed region to allow crew to conduct a moonwalk, while limiting disturbance when landing. This will allow crew to collect samples and conduct scientific analysis in an uncompromised area, yielding important information about the depth, distribution, and composition of water ice that was <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/feature\/ames\/ice-confirmed-at-the-moon-s-poles\" rel=\"noopener\">confirmed<\/a> at the Moon\u2019s South Pole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The team identified regions that can fulfill the moonwalk objective by ensuring proximity to permanently shadowed regions, and also factored in other lighting conditions. All 13 regions contain sites that provide continuous access to sunlight throughout a 6.5-day period \u2013 the planned duration of the Artemis III surface mission. Access to sunlight is critical for a long-term stay at the Moon because it provides a power source and minimizes temperature variations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDeveloping a blueprint for exploring the solar system means learning how to use resources that are available to us while also preserving their scientific integrity\u201d, said Jacob Bleacher, chief exploration scientist for NASA. \u201cLunar water ice is valuable from a scientific perspective and also as a resource, because from it we can extract oxygen and hydrogen for life support systems and fuel.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA will discuss the 13 regions with broader science and engineering communities through conferences and workshops to solicit input about the merits of each region. This feedback will inform site selections in the future, and NASA may identify additional regions for consideration. The agency will also continue to work with SpaceX to confirm Starship\u2019s landing capabilities and assess the options accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>NASA will select sites within regions for Artemis III after it identifies the mission\u2019s target launch dates, which dictate transfer trajectories and surface environment conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through Artemis, NASA will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon, paving the way for a long-term, sustainable lunar presence and serving as a steppingstone for future astronaut missions to Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information on Artemis, visit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/artemis\/\">https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/specials\/artemis\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>-end-<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vanessa Lloyd \/ Alana Johnson \/ Kathryn Hambleton<br> Headquarters, Washington<br> 240-397-0807 \/ 202-672-4780 \/ 202-358-1100<br> vanessa.c.lloyd@nasa.gov \/ alana.r.johnson@nasa.gov \/ kathryn.a.hambleton@nasa.gov<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a 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2.48 2.5zm.02 4.5h-5v16h5v-16zm7.982 0h-4.968v16h4.969v-8.399c0-4.67 6.029-5.052 6.029 0v8.399h4.988v-10.131c0-7.88-8.922-7.593-11.018-3.714v-2.155z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-rss\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/feed\/\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to RSS feed.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 800 800\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Jan 08, 2024<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2><\/div><ul class=\"article-tags\"><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/goddard\/\">Goddard Space Flight Center<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/artemis\/\">Artemis<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/artemis\/artemis-iii-nasas-first-human-mission-to-the-lunar-south-pole\/\">Artemis 3<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lee esta nota de prensa en espa\u00f1ol aqu\u00ed. As NASA prepares to send astronauts back to the Moon under Artemis, the agency has identified 13 candidate landing regions near the lunar South Pole. Each region contains multiple potential landing sites for Artemis III, which will be the first of the Artemis missions to bring crew […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"22-089","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"RELEASE","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[2857,2681,2919],"news-tags":[12374],"internal-terms":[12745,9508,9505],"coauthors":[3854],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"NASA Identifies Candidate Regions for Landing Next Americans on Moon","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-identifies-candidate-regions-for-landing-next-americans-on-moon\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-identifies-candidate-regions-for-landing-next-americans-on-moon\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":""},"articleSection":"NASA Centers & Facilities","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"NASA"}],"creator":["NASA"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Missions","Artemis","Artemis 3","Goddard Space Flight Center"],"dateCreated":"2022-08-19T19:07:00Z","datePublished":"2022-08-19T19:07:00Z","dateModified":"2024-01-08T18:51:47Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"NASA Identifies Candidate Regions for Landing Next Americans on Moon\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasa-identifies-candidate-regions-for-landing-next-americans-on-moon\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2022-08-19T19:07:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Centers & Facilities\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,Artemis,Artemis 3,Goddard Space Flight Center\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"NASA\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":5,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/142681"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/press-release"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/142681\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":578830,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/press-release\/142681\/revisions\/578830"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142681"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142681"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=142681"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=142681"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=142681"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}