In the two-way race between the U.S. and China to put humans back on the moon, the lunar south pole is widely considered the most prized place to land. The area is relatively resource-rich, pocked with dark craters that harbor water ice and have near constant exposure to sunlight around their respective rims—both desirable features for lunar bases. The South Pole–Aitken Basin—the moon’s largest and oldest impact structure—dominates the region. Situated on the moon’s far side, it is shielded from Earth’s radio chatter, making it an ideal site for ultrasensitive astronomy observations.
But this promise comes with considerable peril: compared with other landing sites, the south polar region is harder to reach, and its craters are more treacherous. And without a moon-orbiting relay, the far side is cut off from communicating with Earth.
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