NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) gives us a first glimpse at Malapert Massif, an Artemis 3 landing site candidate. This are is thought to be a remnant of the South Pole, or the Aitken basin rim, which formed more than 4 billion years ago. It was captured on March 3, 2023 when the spacecraft was approximately 170 kilometers beyond Shackleton crater.
The relatively flat area (86°S, 0°E) that you see above the “5000” in the picture below is the main region of the Artemis 3 landing site, which then continues down the slope toward Earth. After landing, the Human Landing System (HLS) will consist of two crew members, who will remain on the surface for 6.5 days, and conduct up to four spacewalks on the Moon’s surface, performing a variety of scientific observations, including sampling water ice.
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Imagine the view from the summit; it rises more than 5000 meters (16,400 feet) above its base. Off in the distance, you could see a 3500 meter (11,480 feet) tall cliff. One could argue that the sheer grandeur of this region makes it a prime candidate,” said the LROC team.
