When NASA Astronauts Return to the Moon, Here’s Where They Could Land

Space agency unveils nine potential landing regions for the Artemis III mission to the lunar south pole, a treacherous, unexplored location.

Thursday, October 31, 2024 at 03:50 PM ET

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Pictured are eight of the nine potential landing regions NASA identified for the Artemis III moon mission, among them craters, mountains, and plains. [Courtesy: NASA]

Key Takeaways:

NASA has identified nine potential landing regions at the moon's south pole for the Artemis III mission, tentatively scheduled for September 2026.
Artemis III aims to return humans to the moon for the first time in half a century, notably landing the first woman and person of color.
The lunar south pole was chosen for its significant scientific potential, particularly the search for water ice and other ancient compounds within its challenging, permanently shadowed regions.

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NASA is gearing up to return Americans to the moon for the first time since the Apollo missions half a century ago. This week, it unveiled where they may land.

The space agency on Monday revealed nine potential landing regions for the Artemis III mission to the lunar south pole, tentatively scheduled for September 2026. Artemis III will be the first time humans have explored the mysterious region and will land the first woman and person of color on the moon.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.