Space

National Academies Rank Nonpolar Moon Sites

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 22/10/2026, 12:35:26 UTC.

Briefings

A National Academies report released in October 2026 ranked four non-polar lunar sites for future crewed missions, prioritizing science goals over robotic operations. The top sites include Bhabha Crater for astronomy, Mons Hadley for historical preservation, Orientale Basin for crustal studies, and Aristarchus Plateau for space weather. The report assumes short two-person sorties with no rovers, and NASA has not yet acted on the recommendations, though some companies suggest these sites could serve Artemis IV missions if the South Pole is unavailable.

Key points

• The National Academies report ranked four non-polar lunar sites for future crewed missions, prioritizing science goals over robotic operations.
• Bhabha Crater was ranked first for its location in the South Pole-Aitken Basin, offering low-frequency astronomy opportunities shielded from Earth's radio noise.

Context

The report was released by the National Academies in October 2026, addressing NASA's request for locations beyond the poles where science goals require human presence rather than robots. It assumes short two-person sorties with no rovers and one to four moonwalks per site.

Limitations

The report assumes short two-person sorties with no rovers and one to four moonwalks per site. NASA has not yet acted on the recommendations, and the report may have a nearer-term use for Artemis IV missions if the South Pole is unavailable.

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