According to Space, the new imagery is a result of a compilation of high-resolution images captured by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) network and NASA’s ShadowCam instrument aboard the Korean Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO).
The haunting lunar South Pole region – Photo: NASA/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
“Enshrouded in perpetual darkness, the interior of Shackleton crater near the lunar South Pole is revealed in this stunning ‘mosaic’ image,” NASA writes.
The crater itself was captured by ShadowCam, a NASA-designed instrument meant to peer into the Moon’s shadowed regions. The unique imagery showcases a perfectly round crater that is hauntingly reminiscent of a flying saucer’s landing and departure mark.
It’s not the mark of an actual flying saucer but possibly that of an ancient asteroid. Nevertheless, this location might become a “spaceport” for numerous spacecraft in the near future, as it is the lunar South Pole, a destination attracting the attention of space agencies worldwide.
For example, the Artemis 3 mission, set to carry three astronauts to the Moon, is currently being prepared by NASA and scheduled for a 2025 touchdown. According to NASA scientists, the South Pole may hold sub-surface water pockets and intriguing clues about the Moon’s formation.
This region is also of interest to various space agencies globally, including Russia’s Roscosmos and India’s ISRO.
However, Roscosmos’ recent mission sadly crash-landed due to a malfunction during descent, whereas India achieved success with the Chandrayaan-3 mission, completing the initial phase with the Vikram lander and Pragyan rover.
The ambitious Artemis 3 mission from the United States, with a crew on board, comes after years of observation and research in this region using the LRO. China also has plans for a crewed mission to the Moon, possibly around 2030 or later.