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NASA’s Artemis program is heading toward a surprisingly different lunar landing site than originally planned, thanks to groundbreaking research about the Moon’s largest crater formation. According to a new study published in Nature, the South Pole-Aitken basin—the massive 1,200-mile crater where astronauts are scheduled to land—was created by a glancing, southward asteroid impact rather than the direct collision scientists had assumed for decades. This revelation has “important implications” for how NASA will approach its first crewed lunar landing in over 50 years and what scientists hope to discover about the Moon’s geological history.
Rethinking Lunar Impact History
Planetary scientists from the University of Arizona conducted detailed analysis of the South Pole-Aitken basin’s shape and composition, comparing it to other impact craters across the solar system. Their findings, published in Nature journal, reveal the crater’s oblong, teardrop shape indicates a sideswipe impact that gouged through the lunar crust at an angle. “The formation mechanism completely changes our understanding of what materials astronauts will encounter,” lead researcher Jeffrey Andrews-Hanna explained in the study.
This glancing blow theory helps explain one of the Moon’s most persistent mysteries: why the far side is heavily cratered while the near side appears relatively smooth. The research suggests the impact redistributed material across the lunar surface in unexpected patterns, creating the asymmetrical appearance that has puzzled astronomers since the first orbital missions.
Artemis Mission Strategy Transformation
NASA’s upcoming Artemis missions will now target the “down-range rim” of the basin where ejected material from the Moon’s interior accumulated most heavily. This strategic adjustment, according to NASA planetary scientists, positions astronauts to access samples from deeper within the Moon than previously thought possible at any polar landing site.
The timing couldn’t be more crucial—with crewed missions scheduled within two years, this new understanding of the crater’s formation directly influences:
- Landing site selection criteria
- Scientific sampling priorities
- Geological survey equipment requirements
- Mission duration and exploration routes
Lunar Magma Ocean Connections
The research connects directly to theories about the Moon’s early magma ocean phase, which recent analysis confirms once covered the entire lunar surface. Andrews-Hanna compares the process to what happens with a frozen soda: “As the water becomes solid, the high fructose corn syrup resists freezing until the very end and becomes concentrated in the last bits of liquid. We think something similar happened on the Moon with KREEP elements.”
This concentration process explains the unusual distribution of potassium, rare earth elements, and phosphorus (KREEP) across the lunar surface. The glancing impact that formed the South Pole-Aitken basin appears to have squeezed these mineral-rich materials toward the near side, much like “toothpaste being squeezed out of a tube,” according to the research team.
Scientific Implications Beyond Lunar Science
The findings extend beyond lunar geology, offering insights into impact dynamics throughout our solar system. Understanding how glancing blows create different crater formations and material distribution patterns could reshape how scientists interpret surface features on Mars, Mercury, and other planetary bodies. Industry experts note that similar analytical approaches could revolutionize how we study impact histories across the solar system.
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The research methodology—combining gravitational data, topographic analysis, and comparative planetology—represents a significant advancement in how scientists reconstruct ancient impact events. This approach has already influenced how related analysis of impact craters is being conducted across multiple space agencies.
Future Exploration and Discovery Potential
With Artemis missions now targeting this newly understood region, scientists anticipate discovering materials from deep within the lunar crust and possibly the upper mantle. The glancing impact theory suggests the South Pole-Aitken basin excavation reached unprecedented depths, bringing to surface materials that would otherwise remain inaccessible.
This fortunate coincidence—that NASA’s planned landing zone aligns with the most scientifically valuable area of the crater—promises to accelerate our understanding of lunar formation and evolution. The Artemis program now stands to return not just astronauts to the Moon, but potentially revolutionary insights about our nearest celestial neighbor’s deepest secrets.
