NASA Announces Nine Landing Sites for Artemis III Mission

As NASA moves closer to launching the first crewed Moon landing in over 50 years, the agency has pinpointed nine potential landing regions near the lunar South Pole for its historic Artemis III mission.

These areas will undergo detailed scientific and engineering assessments as NASA refines its selection. While these regions are prioritized for Artemis III, the agency will continue surveying additional areas for future missions, pushing exploration beyond these initial sites.

“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.” - Lakiesha Hawkins, Assistant Deputy Associate Administrator of NASA’s Moon to Mars Program Office.

NASA’s Cross Agency Site Selection Analysis team, in collaboration with scientific and industrial partners, identified and narrowed down potential landing sites. Each region was evaluated for scientific value and mission feasibility, ensuring that all locations hold scientific significance and are accessible given mission constraints.

The Candidate Artemis III Landing Regions

1. Peak near Cabeus B

2. Haworth

3. Malapert Massif

4. Mons Mouton Plateau

5. Mons Mouton

6. Nobile Rim 1

7. Nobile Rim 2

8. de Gerlache Rim 2

9. Slater Plain

Each of these regions, list in no particular order boasts unique geological features that allow for flexibility in mission planning. Notably, the lunar South Pole remains untouched by human exploration and contains permanently shadowed regions capable of preserving resources like water, which could be crucial for future exploration efforts.

“The Moon’s South Pole is a completely different environment than where we landed during the Apollo missions...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.” - Sarah Noble, Artemis Lunar Science Lead at NASA Headquarters.

Process Behind Site Selection

A team of scientists and engineers analyzed the lunar South Pole using data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, alongside decades of lunar research.

They evaluated factors like scientific potential, launch window availability, terrain stability, Earth communication capability, and lighting conditions. NASA also accounted for the combined trajectory capabilities of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, the Orion spacecraft, and Starship HLS (Human Landing System) to confirm safe, accessible sites.

The Artemis III geology team focused on finding scientifically promising sites. The selected regions offer opportunities for groundbreaking research, which could enhance our understanding of rocky planets, lunar resources, and the history of the solar system.

“Artemis III will be the first time that astronauts will land in the south polar region of the Moon. They will be flying on a new lander into a terrain that is unique from our past Apollo experience...Finding the right locations for this historic moment begins with identifying safe places for this first landing, and then trying to match that with opportunities for science from this new place on the Moon.” - Jacob Bleacher, NASA’s Chief Exploration Scientist.

Engaging the Lunar Science Community

NASA’s site assessment team plans to work closely with the lunar science community, conducting conferences and workshops to gather additional data, build geologic maps, and thoroughly analyze the geology of potential landing sites. They will also continue surveying the lunar South Pole region to assess science potential and mission viability for Artemis missions beyond Artemis III, including the suitability of landing sites for extended scientific studies and for supporting the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) planned for Artemis V.

The agency will finalize landing sites for Artemis III once the mission’s target launch dates are determined. These dates will influence transfer trajectories and surface conditions, critical elements in safe site selection.

A New Era in Lunar Exploration

The Artemis campaign will not only return humans to the Moon but also lay the groundwork for long-term exploration and research.

NASA is committed to landing the first woman, the first person of color, and an international partner astronaut on the Moon’s surface, setting the stage for human exploration of Mars.

By establishing a lasting presence on the Moon, NASA’s Artemis missions aim to benefit humanity by uncovering new scientific knowledge and advancing the technology needed for sustainable space exploration. The agency’s dedication to landing near the lunar South Pole underscores its commitment to pioneering discoveries and preparing for future human expeditions beyond Earth.