spacetoday.net: NASA report describes science of Artemis 3 lunar landing mission

NASA report describes science of Artemis 3 lunar landing mission

Posted: Sat, Dec 12, 2020, 9:59 AM ET (1459 GMT)
Artemis astronauts on the Moon illustration (NASA)

A NASA report released this week outlined the science that the agency hopes to achieve on the first crewed Artemis landing. The Artemis 3 Science Definition Team report described the science goals of the mission, including research in planetary and space science and studying exploration-related risks to astronauts, and a candidate science program. The report cautioned that the mass allocations of the lander for science instruments are insufficient, and recommended sending some instruments, and a lunar rover, on a robotic lander ahead of Artemis 3. The report did not recommend specific landing locations, although the mission will likely go to the south polar regions of the moon.