Future Artemis moon missions are targeting the South Pole-Aitken basin, the largest and oldest impact crater on the lunar far side, as a primary site for scientific discovery. New computer simulations from the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and Purdue University suggest the basin was formed by a low-angle impact from a complex, protoplanet-like object. According to researchers, this collision likely excavated mantle material, which may be accessible to astronauts at proposed landing sites near the lunar south pole.
Why is the South Pole-Aitken basin a priority for NASA?
NASA has identified the South Pole-Aitken basin as a critical destination for the Artemis program due to the availability of water ice and consistent sunlight. According to NASA, nine potential landing sites are currently under evaluation, ranging from the basin floor to its outer rim. These sites, such as Nobile Rim and Haworth, offer the resources necessary for long-term human presence. While the basin’s boundaries are not sharply defined, its geological history provides a unique window into the early evolution of the solar system.
The South Pole-Aitken basin is so massive that it contains a dense, metallic mass beneath its surface estimated to be five times larger than the Big Island of Hawaii, according to research published in 2019.
What do new studies reveal about the basin’s formation?
Two peer-reviewed papers published in Science Advances (May 6, 2026) and JGR Planets (April 23, 2026) provide a revised history of the basin. Lead author Shigeru Wakita of Purdue University used advanced modeling to determine that the impactor struck the moon from the north at a shallow angle. This trajectory explains the basin’s elongated shape. The findings indicate the impactor was not a simple asteroid but a differentiated body with an inner core, functioning more like a “baby planet” or protoplanet.
How will astronauts access deep lunar mantle material?
The impact that created the basin was powerful enough to blast material from the lunar mantle onto the surface, according to Gabriel Gowman of the University of Arizona. While previous estimates suggested this mantle-rich debris was concentrated far from landing zones, new gravity-mapping models show the ejecta is more widespread. This suggests that future Artemis crews may find samples of deep-crust and mantle rock near their designated landing sites, providing direct evidence of the moon’s internal composition.
Comparison: Gravity Mapping vs. Impact Simulations
| Study Focus | Key Finding | Lead Researcher |
|---|---|---|
| Impact Dynamics | Low-angle impact by a protoplanet | Shigeru Wakita (Purdue) |
| Gravity/Ejecta | Accessible mantle material near rims | Gabriel Gowman (U. Arizona) |
Frequently Asked Questions
- When will Artemis astronauts land in the South Pole-Aitken basin?
NASA has shifted its timeline, with landings now slated for the Artemis 4 mission and subsequent flights, following the initial Artemis 3 mission remaining in Earth orbit. - Why is mantle material important?
The mantle represents the interior of the moon; accessing it allows scientists to study the composition of the early solar system and the moon’s geologic history. - Have any probes visited this region recently?
Yes, the Chinese Chang’e 6 probe landed in the Apollo basin—a sub-region of the South Pole-Aitken basin—in June 2024 and successfully returned samples to Earth.
Keep track of the Artemis mission updates via the official NASA website to see how landing site selection evolves as new gravity data becomes available.
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