NASA will hold a media teleconference at 2 p.m. EDT Friday, Aug. 19, to announce regions near the lunar South Pole the agency has identified as potential areas for astronauts to land as part of the Artemis III mission, targeted for 2025. This will be the first time astronauts will set foot on the Moon since NASAs Apollo 17 mission in 1972.
Audio of the briefing will livestream on NASAs website.
Within each region, there are several potential landing sites. Each of the selected regions, from which specific landing sites could be selected, is of scientific interest and was evaluated based on terrain, communications, and lighting conditions, as well as ability to meet science objectives. NASA will engage with the broader science community in the coming months to discuss the merits of each region.
Teleconference participants include:
- Mark Kirasich, deputy associate administrator for the Artemis Campaign Development Division, NASA Headquarters
- Jacob Bleacher, chief exploration scientist, NASA Headquarters
- Sarah Noble, Artemis lunar science lead, Planetary Science Division, NASA Headquarters
- Prasun Desai, deputy associate administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate, NASA Headquarters
