We’re seeing the moon in a new light. A fresh NASA mosaic view of the lunar south pole region highlights a scenic crater and gives us a look at a prime area for future human exploration.
The mosaic combines imagery sent back from two different spacecraft in orbit around the moon. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) is aboard a NASA
orbiter. ShadowCam, a NASA instrument, is in residence on the Korea Aerospace Research Institute’s Danuri orbiter. Danuri is more officially known as the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter.
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The southern end of the moon is exciting because it may harbor deposits of water ice. Water is difficult to transport across space in large quantities. Harvesting water on site on the moon would enable a steady human presence there and provide resources for making rocket fuel to power expeditions deeper into the solar system.
NASA already flew an uncrewed Artemis I test mission around the moon. Artemis II will send astronauts on a journey around our lunar neighbor. Artemis III, currently planned for 2025, will aim to put boots on the moon. Those future Artemis explorers might look at this image and see where they’ll leave footprints one day.
