Study Reveals Artemis Astronauts to Land in Moon's Ancient Impact Zone

Impact Resurfacing of the Artemis Exploration Zone: Sample Locations for Primordial Crust and South Pole‐Aitken (SPA) Ejecta

Regolith samples from the lunar south pole are expected to contain material from the ancient lunar crust and potentially the uppermost mantle, excavated by the South Pole‐Aitken (SPA) impact. In this study, we aim to understand the impact resurfacing processes following the SPA impact and the subsequent redistribution of primordial crust and SPA‐derived mantle material within the initial Artemis exploration zone (AEZ).

The moon's biggest impact crater made a radioactive splash

New analyses of the largest impact crater on the moon reveal unexpected insights into its tumultuous past. They also suggest that once astronauts return to the moon, they will have access to a veritable gold mine of scientific clues.

Southward impact excavated magma ocean at the lunar South Pole–Aitken basin

The ancient South Pole–Aitken impact basin provides a key data point for our understanding of the evolution of the Moon, as it formed during the earliest pre-Nectarian epoch of lunar history1, excavated more deeply than any other known impact basin2,3 and is found on the lunar far side, about which less is known than the well-explored near side. Here we show that the tapering of the basin outline and the more gradual topographic and crustal thic…

The Moon's Largest Crater Has Something Odd Going on – And Astronauts Are Heading There

The gravitational interaction between the Earth and Moon has led to one hemisphere of the Moon being locked facing away from Earth.

Moon's largest crater harbors secret on south pole where NASA astronauts will land

Could Artemis III astronauts collect some lunar samples that shed light on the moon's mysterious past? That's what a team of researchers hope.

Arizona scientist wants NASA astronauts to collect lunar crater samples. Here's why

Solving a lunar mystery? Scientist at the University of Arizona is the lead author on research proposing a new theory for the moon's unlikely origins.