According to modern science, the lunar south pole holds valuable resources that could support the construction of bases on the Moon and future missions to Mars.
It seems that nowadays, all space-related organizations are eager to send spacecraft to the lunar south pole. India recently became the fourth nation to land on the Moon, while Russia’s recent space mission did not achieve the same success. The United States has plans to send a crew to the lunar south pole in 2025, and China is scouting for similar landing sites for its unmanned lunar lander.
The lunar south pole is the southernmost point on the Moon, located at coordinates 90° south. It has garnered special attention from scientists due to the presence of water ice in permanently shadowed regions surrounding it. Image: Inverse
In the decades since humans last set foot on the Moon, we have discovered hidden water ice in the shadowed regions near the lunar south pole. This newfound information has made the Moon even more appealing.
NASA is also serious about sending astronauts to Mars, and they view the Moon as a crucial stepping stone on that path – both literally and metaphorically. Landing on the Moon and establishing a presence there will help develop the technology and plans that astronauts can use for the longer journey to Mars later on.
In fact, NASA plans to use the Moon and its lunar orbit space station called Gateway as a pit stop for longer missions to Mars.
Other countries, especially China, India, and Russia, are also eyeing the lunar south pole. In some cases, their space agencies have long-term ambitions for crewed missions to Mars, but for now, these nations also want to achieve specific milestones through lunar landings.
NASA’s planned Gateway space station will orbit the Moon and serve as a research hub and resource supply station for missions to Mars. Image: Inverse
What’s special about the lunar south pole?
The lunar south pole region contains many volcanic vents and rugged terrains, which are quite different from the cold, relatively flat plains that the Apollo astronauts explored in the 1970s. But the deep craters around the pole are believed to hold the key to building self-sustaining lunar bases, thanks to the presence of frozen water in the permanently shadowed regions.
If you’re thinking about setting up a base on the Moon, water ice will play a vital role. Of course, you can melt it and drink it, but you can also break it down into hydrogen and oxygen to create rocket fuel (which can also be used for breathing). However, water on the Moon is especially valuable because it’s heavy, and transporting it from Earth is costly both in terms of money and fuel. Having a lunar base that can extract water and generate rocket fuel and breathable air from nearby volcanic vents will be much cheaper than transporting these resources from Earth. Mars missions will also benefit from having a resupply station in lunar orbit like Gateway instead of launching everything from Earth.
The shadowed craters at the lunar south pole contain water ice, a valuable resource for future explorers. Image: Inverse
Future Plans upcoming
Chang’e-6 lunar lander mission will carry instruments from France, Italy, Sweden, and Pakistan. India’s next lunar mission will be a joint effort with Japan. NASA is pursuing its Artemis program with the European Space Agency (ESA), along with space agencies from Germany, Israel, Italy, and Japan.
Here’s a timeline of future missions:
- 2024: NASA’s Artemis II crew will orbit the Moon. China’s unmanned Chang’e-6 lunar lander will bring back rock and regolith samples from the lunar far side.
- 2025: NASA will launch the first two modules of the lunar Gateway space station. Astronauts will land near the lunar south pole during NASA’s Artemis III mission.
- 2026: China’s unmanned Chang’e-7 mission will land near the lunar south pole with a lander and a rover.
- 2027: Russia’s Luna-26 mission (if it proceeds after the Luna-25 accident) will orbit the lunar poles.
- 2026-2028: India’s unmanned Chandrayaan-4 mission, in collaboration with Japan, will land a rover near the lunar south pole.
- 2028: China’s unmanned Chang’e-8 mission will land near the lunar south pole and test 3D-printed building technology. NASA’s Artemis IV crew mission will bring more astronauts to the Moon and transfer the primary habitat module to the Gateway.
- 2029: NASA’s Artemis V crew mission will bring more astronauts and lunar landers to the Moon.
- 2029-2031: NASA will provide four additional modules for the Gateway and bring more astronauts to the Moon with the Artemis VI crew mission.
- 2035: China and Russia plan to establish a joint lunar base with an international crew called the International Lunar Research Station.
These ambitious plans highlight the significance of the lunar south pole in future lunar exploration and beyond.