National Academies Designate Priority Non-Polar Lunar Targets
A new report from the National Academies identifies four critical non-polar landing sites for future human exploration, balancing geological research with heritage preservation and orbital shielding.
As NASA shifts focus toward a permanent South Pole presence, the National Academies has released a report outlining four high-priority non-polar sites for short-duration human sorties. According to Payload, these recommendations serve as scientific contingencies or mission add-ons if Artemis IV requires an alternative to the lunar south.
The report identifies Bhabha Crater as the primary target. Located on the lunar far side within the South Pole-Aitken Basin, the site offers the oldest impact signatures in the system and a radio-quiet environment for low-frequency astronomy. Second is Mons Hadley, the Apollo 15 landing site. The committee recommends landing 2 km away to study how equipment and waste have degraded over 55 years, circumventing the protected status of the Apollo 11 and 17 heritage sites.
The Orientale Basin is ranked third as the Moon’s best-preserved impact basin, offering access to the deep lunar crust through its mountain rings. Finally, the Aristarchus Plateau is cited for its volcanic history, potential rare Earth elements, and suitability for space-weather monitoring.
Technical mandates for these missions include extending astronaut travel beyond the current 2-km limit and deploying "survive-the-night" instrumentation. The committee also emphasizes the need for consistent seismic monitoring at every site to establish a Lunar Geophysical Network. While NASA has not confirmed if it will integrate these targets into future flight manifests, industry leaders suggest these sites offer lower-risk alternatives to polar landings while maximizing scientific return.