Page 22 - 19BAR0007

The lunar south pole presents a compelling prospect for human settlement and extended
exploration due to its unique attributes. Nonetheless, there are hurdles to overcome, including

designing appropriate habitats, creating transportation systems, developing life-support
technologies, and mitigating risks from prolonged exposure to the lunar conditions. NASA is

targeting the lunar South Pole for its Artemis program, despite the area's extreme and varied

conditions posing challenges for human activities. However, these conditions also offer the
Thesis Report V-SPARC VIT
potential for groundbreaking scientific discoveries in deep space, aiding our understanding of

our cosmic position and facilitating exploration further into the solar system. These regions, all
within six degrees of latitude from the lunar South Pole, feature diverse geological

characteristics. Collectively, they offer a range of landing options for various opportunities.

The selection of specific landing sites is closely linked to launch window timing, so having
multiple regions provides flexibility for launches throughout the year.

3.1.1. Water ice and mineral

Figure 4 : Lunar water ice (Source: https://appel.nasa.gov/2020/04/28/nasa-report-outlines-

plan-for-sustained-moon-presence/ )

The presence of water ice and mineral resources is measured by detecting at least 0.2 instances

of water per square kilometer. Water is crucial for various human activities, including

propulsion, hydroponic farming, and general use. Carbon dioxide is predominantly found in

10