Why is the Moon's south pole so important?

Aug 23, 2023

Several space agencies, including NASA, China, and India, are planning missions to the moon's south pole in the coming years. Image: Unsplash/SpaceX

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Several space agencies, including India, the United States, and China, are planning missions to the moon's south pole. Image: NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive (NSSDCA)

Scientists have found evidence of water ice on the moon's south pole. Image: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera; Indian Space Research Organisation

FILE PHOTO: A view of the moon as viewed by the Chandrayaan-3 lander during Lunar Orbit Insertion on August 5, 2023 in this screengrab from a video released August 6, 2023.

A view of the moon as viewed by the Chandrayaan-3 lander during Lunar Orbit Insertion on August 5, 2023 in this screengrab from a video released August 6, 2023. Image: ISRO/Handout via REUTERS

The south pole is a difficult place to land on the moon, due to its craters and deep trenches. Image: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera; Indian Space Research Organisation

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