Two new studies highlighted by EarthSky say Artemis astronauts will land in and around the South Pole–Aitken basin, the Moon’s largest impact basin, on the lunar far side.[1] The article says Artemis landing options include Nobile Rim 1, Nobile Rim 2, and Haworth inside the basin; Malapert Massif near the rim; and de Gerlache Rim 2 outside it.[1] The same report notes that the south-polar landing region was chosen for two practical reasons: access to water ice and long periods of sunlight.[1]
For lunar habitation, the basin matters because it combines extractable volatiles with terrain that can expose ancient crustal and impact-ejecta records, improving site characterization for permanent infrastructure.[1][2] NASA also describes South Pole–Aitken as intersecting the south polar region and identifies it as a prime target for sample collection and research during Artemis, underscoring its value for reconstructing lunar formation and volatile distribution.[2] For an existential-resilience archive, samples from this region could preserve evidence of early solar system processes and resource availability patterns relevant to self-sustaining off-world civilization.[2]
The Ark team should track Artemis site-selection decisions, the final ranking of south-polar landing zones, and any sample-return plans focused on South Pole–Aitken materials.[1][2] Priority research should map likely ice access, sunlight persistence, ejecta provenance, and how basin geology affects excavation, shielding, and in-situ resource utilization at Artemis landing sites.[1][2] Integration priority: build a decision model linking South Pole–Aitken geology to water extraction, construction materials, and long-term habitat siting.
The key takeaway is that Artemis is turning South Pole–Aitken into the Moon’s most strategically important science-and-resources corridor for future settlement.[1][2]