This Week in Space 224

It has been said that the Moon is a harsh mistress, and nowhere is this more apparent than at the lunar south pole. That is, however, where the Artemis program is headed, and we need to figure out how to best explore the region. Dr. David Kring of the Universities Space Research Association's Lunar and Planetary Institute joins us to explore the where, whys, and hows of the Artemis Program's lunar exploration plans, and the answers--and risks--that await us. 

Headlines:

• Starship Flight 12 Survives Indian Ocean Landing nd Long Sea Journey
• China's Chang'e 7 Lunar Hopper Mission Targets Permanently Shadowed Terrain
• US National Space Transportation Policy Aims for 1,000 Launches Per Year by 2030

Main Topic: The Science and Planning of the Artemis Lunar Program

• Criteria and Studies for Selecting Artemis Landing Sites
• South Pole Resource Advantages: Continuous Solar Power and Potential Volatiles
• Scientific Promise of the Schrödinger Impact Basin vs. South Pole Mandate
• The Value of Lunar Sample Return for Transformational Science
• Unique Terrain and Operational Challenges of the Lunar South Polar Region
• Training, Mobility, and the Role of Human Exploration versus Robotics
• Impact Cratering's Role in Life's Origins and Earth's Early History
• Considerations for Lunar Base Location and Hazards
• Training Programs for Scientists and Astronauts Preparing for Artemis

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Links

• The National Space Transportation Policy
• Lunar and Planetary Institute