With Danuri Gone, Busy NASA... Full-Scale Preparation for Moon Exploration Begins [Reading Science]

On the 20th, 13 Candidate Sites for Artemis 3 Mission Moon Landing Announced
Final Landing Site to Be Selected Considering Future Danuri Exploration Results and Schedule
First Test Launch of Super Heavy-Lift Launch Vehicle for Moon Exploration Scheduled for the 29th

Thirteen candidate lunar landing sites for the Artemis 3 mission in 2025 announced by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on the 20th (local time). Photo by NASA website.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] South Korea's first lunar exploration orbiter, 'Danuri,' has launched, marking the beginning of preparations for humanity's second moon landing. Candidate landing sites have been announced, and the first test launch of the super heavy-lift launch vehicle that will carry astronauts is imminent.

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced on the 20th (local time) the selection of 13 candidate sites for the Artemis 3 mission, scheduled for execution after 2025, which will be humanity's second moon landing. Each of these areas measures 15 km by 15 km and is located within 6 degrees latitude of the lunar south pole. Specifically, the sites include Faustini Crater A, the highlands near Shackleton Crater, and Amundsen Crater. All are close to the lunar south pole and can receive continuous sunlight for the 6.5 days that the landing astronauts are expected to stay. NASA used data collected by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which was sent to the moon in 2008, along with previously gathered data, to select the candidate sites. The final landing site will be chosen after considering the advantages and disadvantages of each candidate. NASA has not ruled out the possibility of adding other sites beyond these 13 candidates.

NASA stated, "We prioritized proximity to the lunar south pole, where water is presumed to exist, considering whether astronauts can perform moonwalks in permanently shadowed regions and whether there are obstacles at the landing sites." They added, "Scientific and technical reviews and discussions on the advantages of each area will be conducted, and the final candidate will be decided once the landing schedule, which will determine the lunar orbit and surface environment, is confirmed."

NASA plans to use its own super heavy-lift launch vehicle, the Space Launch System (SLS), currently under development, and SpaceX's Starship crewed spacecraft to land astronauts, including women and people of color, on the moon after 2025. One of the key objectives is to find ice presumed to exist in the permanently shadowed regions of the lunar south pole. The long-term goal is to build a lunar base where humans can stay for extended periods by utilizing the ice for oxygen, energy, and drinking water.

Development of the super heavy-lift launch vehicle for the moon landing is also accelerating. NASA plans to conduct the first launch of the SLS, which is in the final stages of development for lunar exploration, on the 29th at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Initially, the SLS will carry Orion's four-person spacecraft with a Snoopy doll onboard to orbit the moon. This is the so-called Artemis 1 mission. NASA will test the performance and safety of the SLS ahead of the full-scale crewed lunar landing. In 2024, the Artemis 2 mission will orbit the moon with one person onboard, followed by the Artemis 3 mission after 2025, which will be the crewed lunar landing mission.

Meanwhile, South Korea's lunar exploration orbiter Danuri, launched on the 5th, is equipped with NASA's permanently shadowed region camera (ShadowCam). It will precisely photograph the moon's south pole, where sunlight does not reach, at a resolution of about 1.7 meters to determine the presence of ice and identify terrain features. NASA plans to finalize the landing site for the Artemis 3 mission based on data captured by ShadowCam. The core criteria are proximity to areas where ice exists and whether safe movement of astronauts and exploration vehicles is possible.

This Korea-U.S. cooperation is being interpreted as a signal for future international joint space development, including lunar pioneering. NASA has signed the Artemis Accords with about ten countries, including South Korea. Unlike the Apollo program of the 1960s and 1970s, which was executed independently, NASA plans to pursue humanity's second moon landing, lunar base construction, and the Lunar Gateway through international cooperation with allied countries.