Consider the following statements regarding the Moon’s South Pole and lunar exploration:

1. The South Pole of the Moon has deep craters, many of which remain in total darkness due to the angle of sunlight.

2. India's Chandrayaan-3 mission became the fourth to achieve a controlled landing on the Moon and the first to land near the South Pole.

3. NASA's Artemis program aims to land astronauts at the Moon’s South Pole in the second half of this decade.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct answer is option 4.

In News

• NASA and private space firms are advancing lunar exploration missions, with a focus on the South Pole region, where Artemis astronauts are expected to land. Recent missions, including India’s Chandrayaan-3, have demonstrated successful landings in this challenging terrain.

Key Points

• The Moon’s South Pole has permanently shadowed craters due to the low angle of sunlight, making it a critical area for scientific research and potential resource utilization.
  • Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
• Chandrayaan-3 successfully landed near the South Pole, marking a historic achievement for India.
  • Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
• NASA’s Artemis program is targeting this region for future crewed missions, aiming to explore water ice deposits that could support long-term human presence on the Moon.
  • Hence, Statement 3 is correct.

Additional Information

• The South Pole-Aitken Basin is one of the largest and oldest impact craters in the solar system, offering valuable insights into lunar history.
• Water ice deposits in the region could be used for life support and as a potential source of rocket fuel for future deep-space missions.
• NASA’s VIPER rover will soon explore the South Pole to map and analyze ice deposits before human landings.