Data from a NASA-funded study helps scientists understand the strategic part of the Moon's South Pole region, which is a candidate landing site for the Artemis III mission. The study reveals the presence of moonquakes and faults in the area.
As NASA continues to make progress toward sending astronauts to the lunar South Pole region with its Artemis campaign, data from a NASA -funded study is helping scientists better understand this strategic part of the Moon .
The study presents evidence that moonquakes and faults generated as the Moon’s interior gradually cools and shrinks are also found near and within some of the areas the agency identified as candidate landing regions for Artemis III, the first Artemis mission planned to have a crewed lunar landing. The epicentre of one of the strongest moonquakes recorded by the Apollo Passive Seismic Experiment was located in the lunar south polar region. However, the exact location of the epicenter could not be accurately determined. A cloud of possible locations (magenta dots and light blue polygon) of the strong shallow moonquake using a relocation algorithm specifically adapted for very sparse seismic networks are distributed near the pole. Blue boxes show locations of proposed Artemis III landing regions. Lobate thrust fault scarps are shown by small red line
NASA Artemis Moon South Pole Lunar Landing Moonquakes Faults Seismic Networks