By 
October 29th, 2022
Credit: NASA
A new NASA appraisal has identified seven major challenges to landing and operating at the Moon’s lunar South Pole.
The result is a set of policy recommendation to consider for Artemis landing and operations sites.
NASA’s Office of Technology, Policy, and Strategy (OTPS) has released “Lunar Landing and Operations Policy Analysis.”
Credit: NASA
What if?
The document stems from NASA leadership asking OTPS to examine policy concerns rising up from the lunar dust, even before an Artemis astronauts sets foot on the Moon.
For example: What if another organization wants to land or operate right next to a NASA rover? What if that organization’s landings eject dangerous rocks and dust that could damage others’ assets on the Moon or in cislunar space? What if some agencies operations on the Moon endanger those of other agencies? Do some locations deserve special protections because of their unique scientific or historic value?
Ethics and equity
The assessment notes that within the next four years, at least 22 lunar surface missions are expected. Half of these missions will occur in the Moon’s south polar region.
Lunar south pole – future Moon base location?
Credit: NASA
“Due to this upcoming proliferation of actors and activities at or near the lunar south pole, and due to the potential close proximity of operations, NASA and other operators will face challenges never faced before,” the document explains.
Flagged in the report — particularly when future lunar activity involves commercial activities and the possibility of human habitation – are issues of ethics and equity.
“As with any new endeavor, there is a chance that our exploration will interact in complicated ways with human concerns, such as unequal access to resources, geopolitical power dynamics, cultural values, and more,” states the document. “Some of the recommendations contained in this report may have implications for these questions as well.”
The NASA Artemis program will send the first woman and the next man to the Moon to develop a sustainable human presence on the Moon.
Credit: NASA
Major challenges
As for major challenges ahead, the report identified seven of them: Challenges posed by landings; threats to and from surface operations; challenges to moving across the lunar surface; the danger of Radio-Frequency Interference; threats to areas with special characteristics; the challenge of unexpected activities on the surface; and the need for human heritage protection.
This work can ultimately help support NASA’s vision for “sustainable and responsible exploration,” as robust and transparent ethical dialog helps enable long-term shared visions and public benefit, the report concludes.
To access the full report — “Lunar Landing and Operations Policy Analysis” – go to:
Posted in Space News
