Artemis III Lunar Landing Site Selection: Final Candidates & Technical Constraints
By Tech Research Team | Updated: March 8, 2026
Key Questions & Expert Answers (Updated: 2026-03-08)
To help you navigate the rapidly evolving developments surrounding Artemis III, our experts have compiled the most pressing, event-driven queries as of today.
What are the primary finalist landing sites for Artemis III?
As of March 2026, NASA and its international partners have drastically narrowed the focus from the original 13 regions announced in 2022. The primary contenders currently being evaluated in high-fidelity simulations are the Connecting Ridge (which connects the Shackleton and de Gerlache craters) and Malapert Massif. These sites offer the optimum balance of relatively flat terrain, extended solar illumination, and proximity to Permanently Shadowed Regions (PSRs) holding water ice.
Why is the Lunar South Pole specifically targeted?
The South Pole possesses unique geological characteristics unmatched by the Apollo equatorial landing sites. Because the Moon's axis is barely tilted (1.5 degrees), sunlight strikes the poles horizontally. This creates continuous light on crater rims (ideal for solar power) and permanent darkness in crater depths (PSRs). These deep PSRs act as "cold traps" where volatile elements like water ice have been preserved for billions of years—essential for drinking, breathing, and generating rocket fuel for future Mars missions.
How has SpaceX's Starship HLS influenced the site selection?
The sheer size of the SpaceX Starship Human Landing System (HLS) dictates incredibly stringent landing conditions. Standing nearly 50 meters tall on the lunar surface, the Starship HLS requires a landing slope of less than 5 degrees to prevent tipping. Additionally, the immense thrust of its Raptor engines during descent limits the choice to regions with highly compacted regolith to avoid catastrophic dust blowback or cratering beneath the vehicle. The "elevator" from the crew cabin to the surface also requires stable, flat ground for safe deployment.
When will the final singular site be announced?
NASA is expected to hold off on selecting the single primary landing site until roughly 12 to 18 months prior to launch. Given the current Artemis III launch window projections extending into late 2027, the final site (along with two strict backups) is anticipated to be officially declared in mid-to-late 2026. Planners prefer to keep options open to adjust for the specific launch date, as lighting conditions change drastically depending on the exact day of arrival.
The Evolution of the Artemis III Site Selection
The journey to select the exact coordinates for the first human return to the Moon in over half a century has been a monumental undertaking. Unlike the Apollo missions, which predominantly targeted the flat, relatively safe equatorial maria (lunar seas), the Artemis program embraces high-risk, high-reward territory: the treacherous, heavily cratered terrain of the lunar South Pole.
In August 2022, NASA announced 13 candidate regions, each containing multiple potential landing sites. These included Faustini Rim A, Peak Near Shackleton, Connecting Ridge, Connecting Ridge Extension, de Gerlache Rim 1 & 2, de Gerlache-Kocher Massif, Haworth, Malapert Massif, Leibnitz Beta Plateau, Nobile Rim 1 & 2, and Amundsen Rim. Each region was roughly a 15-by-15-kilometer square.
Between 2022 and today (March 2026), the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has provided massive datasets, feeding supercomputer models mapping lighting conditions, surface roughness, and slope grades down to a half-meter resolution. This data attrition process has slowly eliminated the sites with the poorest lighting profiles or unsafe topological gradients.
The 2026 Finalist Regions: Deep Dive
As mission planners prepare for the definitive "Go/No-Go" decisions, the attention has consolidated around a few elite locations.
1. Connecting Ridge (Shackleton-de Gerlache)
Perhaps the most highly sought-after real estate in the solar system, the Connecting Ridge is a high-elevation ridge line bridging the Shackleton and de Gerlache craters. Because it is elevated, it acts as a "Peak of Eternal Light," receiving solar illumination for nearly 90% of the lunar year. This is a massive advantage for thermal regulation and solar array power generation. Furthermore, the ridge allows astronauts a relatively safe EVA (Extravehicular Activity) route to descend slightly into the shadow boundary of the adjacent craters to sample ancient ices.
2. Malapert Massif
Located further from the pole than Shackleton, Malapert Massif is a remnant of the South Pole-Aitken Basin impact. It stands roughly 5,000 meters above its surrounding terrain. This extreme elevation not only guarantees excellent line-of-sight communication with Earth (Direct-to-Earth or DTE comms) but also provides expansive, flat plateaus that perfectly suit the landing constraints of the Starship HLS.
3. Mons Mouton
Originally targeted heavily by the robotic VIPER rover program, Mons Mouton features some of the flattest terrain available near the South Pole. Its geological profile suggests it is one of the oldest features in the region, offering astronauts the chance to collect samples from the deep lunar crust, potentially unlocking the secrets of the early Earth-Moon system formation.
Technical Constraints Shaping the Choice
Selecting a landing site is a massive mathematical optimization problem balancing science, safety, and hardware limits.
- Starship HLS Dimensions: The sheer mass and height of the HLS. If a landing leg rests on a 1-meter boulder or a sudden depression, a 5-degree tilt could become perilous for Earth return launch. High-resolution shadow mapping is currently ensuring zero large boulders exist in the target zones.
- Axiom Space xEVA Suits: The Artemis III astronauts will wear next-generation Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Units (AxEMU). While highly flexible, these suits have thermal limits. The astronauts cannot spend more than roughly two hours in the deep freeze of a PSR (where temperatures drop below -200°C / -328°F). The site must allow astronauts to walk from the sunlit landing zone to a PSR, collect samples, and return within their life-support and thermal constraints.
- Orbital Mechanics (NRHO): The Orion capsule will wait in a Near Rectilinear Halo Orbit (NRHO). The HLS must launch from the surface at a precise moment to rendezvous with Orion. The landing site latitude must align perfectly with the orbital plane of NRHO during the 6.5-day surface stay.
Future Outlook: What's Next for Artemis III?
Looking ahead from early 2026, the timeline is fiercely accelerating. Over the next 12 months, SpaceX is expected to perform uncrewed landing demonstrations of the Starship HLS. The telemetry data regarding how the plume interacts with lunar regolith will finalize the structural requirements for the landing pad area.
Simultaneously, the Artemis III crew will intensify their training in Houston's Neutral Buoyancy Lab and massive rock yards mapped identically to the chosen Connecting Ridge or Malapert topography. While the exact date remains fluid, humanity's return to the lunar surface will not just be about "flags and footprints"—it will be the establishment of our first sustainable foothold in the cosmos.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How many astronauts will land during Artemis III?
Two astronauts will descend to the lunar surface in the Starship HLS, making history by including the first woman and the first person of color to walk on the Moon. Two other astronauts will remain in lunar orbit aboard the Orion spacecraft.
How long will the Artemis III astronauts stay on the Moon?
The surface expedition is planned to last approximately 6.5 days. During this time, the two astronauts will live inside the Starship HLS and conduct up to four spacewalks (EVAs).
Why is lighting a problem at the lunar South Pole?
At the poles, the sun is always near the horizon, casting incredibly long, pitch-black shadows. This extreme contrast makes navigation, depth perception, and hazard avoidance highly difficult for both automated landing systems and human pilots.
Will Artemis III set up a permanent base?
Artemis III will not construct a base, but it is a vital precursor. The mission will test the systems, suits, and operational procedures necessary for the future Artemis Base Camp, which will be built during subsequent missions (Artemis IV and beyond).
Can they bring lunar water ice back to Earth?
Yes, the goal is to collect pristine, cryogenically frozen core samples of the regolith and ice. Axiom and NASA have designed special insulated containers to ensure the ice does not melt during the journey back to Earth laboratories.