National Academies ranks four key non-polar lunar sites

The National Academies released a report ranking Bhabha Crater, Mons Hadley, Orientale Basin, and Aristarchus Plateau as the top four non-polar lunar sites for future crewed missions. The panel prioritized these locations based on their alignment with the Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032, the expansion of U.S. exploration capabilities, and public inspiration. The recommendations aim to guide NASA’s Artemis program toward diverse scientific targets outside the polar regions. NASA commissioned the study in 2025 to identify non-polar sites where human explorers could address high-priority science objectives beyond robotic capabilities, focusing on short-duration sorties with two-person crews and one to four moonwalks per site, excluding the lunar poles where NASA plans a Moon Base.

Of the four ranked sites, Bhabha Crater, located within the South Pole-Aitken Basin, represents the farthest site humans have ever explored. Its far-side location shields it from Earth’s radio noise, making it an ideal location for low-frequency radio astronomy. James Day noted that exploring the far side will provide critical insights into the early cosmos, stating, “This will give us information on the very early universe before the first stars or galaxies had formed.” This crater may also contain the oldest preserved impact signature in the solar system, offering a unique window into the Moon’s ancient crust.

Because the Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 landing sites hold protected heritage status, the National Academies recommended landing about two kilometers away from the Apollo 15 site. This distance would allow astronauts to study how hardware and biological materials degrade after 55-plus years in the lunar environment, providing critical insights for future lunar base engineering and sustainability.

The Orientale Basin, the Moon’s youngest and best-preserved large impact basin, offers access to deep lunar crust samples and a seismically quiet environment for gravitational wave observatories. The National Academies recommended that astronauts visit the basin only once to preserve its undisturbed geological state. The Aristarchus Plateau, a volcanic plateau spanning about 60 miles, was a former Apollo landing candidate. This site may hold water-bearing deposits and rare Earth elements, making it suitable for a space-weather observatory and resource utilization studies, as its extensive volcanic terrain provides a unique window into the Moon’s geologic history and potential resources for future exploration.

To support exploration of these diverse sites, the National Academies recommended that NASA extend astronauts’ extravehicular activity (EVA) range beyond the current two-kilometer limit. The agency should also develop instruments capable of surviving the extreme temperature fluctuations of lunar day-night cycles and maintain continuous communications, even on the far side of the Moon. Additionally, the report advises NASA to build a simple, unpressurized crewed rover for short excursions to enhance astronaut mobility. Running baseline experiments, such as crew health monitoring and seismic stations for a Lunar Geophysical Network, at every site would provide consistent data across different lunar environments, enhancing scientific understanding and future mission planning.

The National Academies emphasized that non-polar lunar exploration complements NASA’s focus on the lunar South Pole, where a Moon Base is planned and water ice is accessible. Non-polar sites provide unique geological and astronomical advantages that cannot be achieved at the poles, such as studying volcanic terrains, deep lunar crust, and conducting radio astronomy. Robotic systems are critical to this framework, as they can scout terrain, carry equipment, and continue observations after astronauts leave, reducing risk and extending the reach of human exploration. The committee also identified “site-flexible” objectives – such as optical interferometry, space-weather monitoring, gravitational-wave astronomy, and regolith shielding – that can be conducted at multiple non-polar lunar sites based on scientific return and feasibility.

The report highlights that the Moon’s geologic inactivity, including the absence of plate tectonics and volcanic activity, makes its surface a preserved record of solar system history. To maximize the scientific return of these missions, the National Academies recommended prioritizing high-resolution orbital reconnaissance tools to support planning and safety. The committee also advised NASA to fund laboratories and scientists to study samples collected from non-polar sites. Furthermore, astronauts should investigate how lunar soil could be used for long-term human habitation, including growing plants and mitigating radiation hazards.

Despite the detailed scientific prioritization, NASA has not yet committed to acting on the National Academies’ recommendations for non-polar lunar site priorities. The recommendations serve as add-ons to the planned Moon Base missions, but the agency’s official stance remains uncertain.