Moon's south pole becomes new target in space race

The new space race is no longer just about landing on the Moon, but colonizing it, with all eyes fixed on the lunar south pole. This coveted region contains permanently shadowed craters that likely preserve water ice, a vital resource for supplying astronauts.

"The lunar south pole region offers exploitable resources for exploration because the Sun never fully sets or rises, but rather skims the horizon," explained NASA's chief scientist for exploration, Jacob Bleacher, to EFE. Water is the thread of life on our planet, making its presence essential for humanity's leap to the Moon and other planets in the solar system, as proposed by NASA and space companies like SpaceX in the coming decades.

“

The lunar south pole region offers exploitable resources for exploration because the Sun never fully sets or rises, but rather skims the horizon.

Beyond human consumption, water can be used to generate oxygen for astronauts to breathe and produce fuel for continued journeys to other parts of space. This is why the U.S. space agency has chosen the south pole as the site for its future base on Earth's satellite, which, according to its plans, will feature a nuclear reactor for constant electricity. However, Bleacher noted that many questions remain unanswered, such as the quantity of water in the region, its state, or what other materials might be mixed with it.

“

Water is the thread of life on our planet, making its presence essential for humanity's leap to the Moon and other planets in the solar system, as proposed by NASA and space companies like SpaceX in the coming decades.

NASA's Artemis program, which plans to send two crewed missions to the Moon in 2028, will help resolve these doubts. According to the scientist, the region offers significant advantages, being divided into two zones: one "with prolonged illumination, beneficial for solar energy" and another with predominant permanent shadow, which helps preserve "water and volatiles."

Volatiles are compounds that evaporate easily at room temperature, like water. On the Moon, they only survive where the Sun never shines. These craters, at minus 203 degrees Celsius according to NASA, act as natural freezers preserving them for billions of years. This ice "can also reveal the origin of water throughout the inner solar system," added Bleacher, who asserted that studying the Moon will help understand the history that climate and plate tectonics have erased from our planet. Nevertheless, he warned that these lighting conditions also "present great challenges," as the lunar night lasts about two Earth weeks, depending on the area, creating "a harsh environment for astronauts and materials."

“

This ice also can reveal the origin of water throughout the inner solar system.

Solving these problems makes the Moon the antechamber for long-duration travel. "There are key exploration techniques we need to perfect before sending astronauts to Mars," said Bleacher, and for these missions to be sustainable, "astronauts will have to learn to use available resources to live," he added.

“

There are key exploration techniques we need to perfect before sending astronauts to Mars.