If everything goes according to plan, NASA’s Artemis III mission is on track to return humans to the Moon as early as 2026, marking the first lunar landing since the departure of the Apollo 17 crew in 1972. This historic mission won’t just be a leisurely visit, as astronauts will have a slew of scientific tasks to complete, with a particular focus on lunar geology. Recently, a team from NASA unveiled their planetary science goals and objectives for the surface activities of Artemis III, outlining the fieldwork that astronauts will undertake on the lunar surface.

The Artemis III Geology Team disclosed their priorities at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in March 2024. Additionally, NASA revealed their selection of the first science instruments that will be deployed by astronauts on the Moon’s surface during the Artemis III mission.

Although the landing site has not yet been finalized, it will be within 6 degrees of latitude from the South Pole. These instruments are expected to gather crucial scientific data about the lunar environment, the lunar interior, and how to sustain a prolonged human presence on the Moon, ultimately aiding NASA in its preparations for sending astronauts to Mars.

“Artemis heralds a new era of exploration, where human presence enhances scientific discovery. By deploying these innovative instruments on the Moon’s surface, we are embarking on a transformative journey that will revolutionize the way we approach scientific research through human-machine collaboration,” stated NASA Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy. “These three instruments have been chosen to initiate scientific investigations that address essential objectives spanning from the Moon to Mars.”

Two of the primary Artemis science goals, along with the designated instruments, entail comprehending the Moon itself. The Lunar Environment Monitoring Station (LEMS), a compact, autonomous seismometer suite, will aid in studying planetary processes. Meanwhile, the Lunar Dielectric Analyzer (LDA) will contribute to understanding the nature and origins of lunar polar volatiles. The third major science objective focuses on mitigating the risks associated with human exploration, with the Lunar Effects on Agricultural Flora (LEAF) instrument investigating the effects of the lunar surface environment on cultivating space crops to assess the potential for food production.

Aligned with the planetary science goals and the two instruments, scientists have outlined four key objectives that are designed to be universally applicable, regardless of the chosen landing site, ensuring adaptability for future missions.

• A. Understand the Early Evolution of the Moon as a Model for Rocky Planet Evolution

This primary objective aims to assess the Lunar Magma Ocean (LMO) theory, a leading hypothesis on the Moon’s early history. By collecting samples from the Moon’s polar region and analyzing them in comparison to samples from previous missions, scientists hope to refine existing models or develop new ones that better explain the Moon’s formation and evolution. Additionally, researchers intend to investigate the giant impact hypothesis, which provides insight into the formation of the Earth-Moon system.

B. Determine the Lunar Record of Inner Solar System Impact History.

Addressing the impacts that shaped the early Solar System, scientists aim to date the South Pole Aitken Basin, an ancient lunar impact basin. By studying these impact structures, researchers seek to unravel the history of bombardment scenarios and investigate the sources of early impactors, which can offer insights into surface ages across the Solar System.

Moreover, scientists seek to investigate the Lunar Cataclysm Hypothesis, focusing on a period of intense lunar bombardment around 3.9 billion years ago. Understanding the implications of this event could shed light on potential impacts on Earth’s history and the origins of life.

For these objectives, the Lunar Environment Monitoring Station (LEMS) will play a critical role by monitoring moonquakes and seismic activity. The instrument will provide valuable data on the Moon’s subsurface structure, aiding in refining formation and evolution models.

•  C & D: Determine the Variability of Regolith in the Circumpolar Environment as a Keystone for Understanding Surface Modification of Airless Bodies, and Reveal the Age, Origin, and Evolution of Solar System Volatiles

Focusing on the Moon’s polar regions, scientists view these areas as archives of Solar System history, similar to an attic preserving ancient records. By studying these regions and the volatile materials they contain, researchers hope to gain insights into the lunar environment’s ability to retain volatiles over time.

The Lunar Dielectric Analyzer (LDA) will be instrumental in these investigations by analyzing the regolith’s dielectric properties, offering vital information about potential resource utilization and subsurface structures.

“These scientific instruments represent a significant step towards augmenting human exploratory capabilities to conduct groundbreaking lunar research since the Apollo era,” stated Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. “They signal the commencement of our efforts to realize the high-priority scientific goals outlined in the Artemis III Science Definition Team report.”

Through the Artemis program, NASA aims to land the first woman, person of color, and international partner astronaut on the Moon, with the overarching goal of establishing sustainable human presence for scientific exploration and facilitating future missions to Mars, benefitting humanity as a whole.

For additional information, the Planetary Science Goals and Objectives for Artemis III Surface Activities document and the Artemis III Science Definition Team Report can be accessed here.