More than 40 years after Apollo 11 landed on the moon for the first time, NASA has started to identify likely sites for its next moon landing circa 2020, ahead of its attempts to send humans off to Mars.
Although the lunar mission won’t happen for at least another two years, the space agency has already started looking at potential landing zones with the help of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, a high-resolution camera that snaps pics of the moon, Seeker reported.
The order of the moon and Mars missions was set last year when President Donald Trump tasked NASA with a lunar human return, followed by missions to Mars, NASA reported. Private companies, though, are exploring how to put men on the moon and on Mars, with or without NASA, and not necessarily according to NASA's calendar.
NASA is planning to have a moon space station in place within 10 years, giving astronauts a way to live in the moon’s orbit and land frequently on its surface.
So, with 24 million miles of lunar terrain to explore, what kinds of locations are a priority to NASA for its return to the moon? Noah Petro, the project scientist for LRO, shared the characteristics of some likely zones for the next moon landing.
1. Landing zone where volatiles are present: Petro said one idea was to land where there may be water ice, which would provide the opportunity to mine for water. The problem is that these zones will make it difficult to generate warmth or power as they are in permanent shadow.
2. Landing zone with volcanic features: The moon’s surface comprises of a vast system of volcanic features, which could teach researchers more about the moon’s interior and thermal history, making it an appealing landing site, Petro said.
3. Landing zone on far side of moon: Sites that are shielded from radio interference from Earth would offer an ideal opportunity to perform astronomy.
4. Landing zones protected from radiation: Exposure to radiation is a very real concern on the moon. According to NASA, its surface is exposed to cosmic rays and solar flares. Caves on the Moon’s surface however, provide adequate protection from radiation and Petro said landing in a zone with cave features is a possibility.
Which sites won’t be considered for the next moon landing?
Petro said the original six sites visited between 1969 and 1972, during Apollos 11, 12, 14, 15, 16 and 17 are not an option as they are considered to be of cultural importance and NASA hopes to preserve them.
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