From Mashable · Elisha Sauers · · 50s
Astronauts urged to visit 4 moon sites
National Academies recommend Apollo 15 site and three others for Artemis astronauts.
In brief
National Academies recommend Apollo 15 site and three others for Artemis astronauts. NASA's Artemis astronauts should visit four moon sites including Apollo 15's Hadley Rille to study hardware and biological samples from 1971. Originally reported by Mashable.
Apollo 15 site
Astronauts should return to Apollo 15's Hadley Rille to inspect 1971 hardware and samples.
“A crew would land just north of the site at Mons Hadley — far enough away to avoid damaging it”
Four recommended sites
National Academies selected Bhabha Crater, Mons Hadley, Orientale Basin, and Aristarchus Plateau for Artemis missions.
“They prioritized locations they believed would benefit from human explorers over uncrewed robots”
Why visit these sites
Studying hardware and biological samples from 1971 could reveal how lunar environment impacts equipment and biological material.
“That 'would be foundational information [for] how we need to engineer the systems for lunar bases'”
Bhabha Crater benefits
Bhabha Crater offers insights into solar system's oldest impact and is prime for radio astronomy due to far side location.
“It's an almost unmatched location for doing radio astronomy, and the reason for this is because it's in the quiet zone on the far side of the moon”
Mission details
Each mission sends two astronauts for one to four moonwalks within 2 kilometers of their lander.
“The panel also chose landing sites that offered the most opportunities for geology, biology, human health, and physics research”
Here's the gist
NASA's Artemis astronauts should visit four moon sites including Apollo 15's Hadley Rille to study hardware and biological samples from 1971.
