A recent study suggests a major impact may have spread deep lunar materials near where NASA plans to send astronauts for the Artemis missions. This impact created the South Pole–Aitken (SPA) basin, which is the largest crater on the moon, measuring over 1,200 miles wide. Researchers believe it was formed by a special type of asteroid, which could unlock answers to many scientific questions about the moon’s history.
The SPA basin is essential for lunar science. It possibly holds materials from deep within the moon, helping us learn about its structure and formation. Many scientists have debated how this massive crater came to be, particularly what size and type of asteroid created it.
Led by Shigeru Wakita from Purdue University, a team used advanced 3D simulations to analyze the basin. They concluded that a large, differentiated asteroid—one with a solid iron core—struck the moon at a shallow angle. This shallow impact caused the asteroid to lose its upper layers as it crashed into the lunar surface, leaving behind the unique shape we see today.
Interestingly, this impact may have also sent material from deep within the moon flying toward the South Pole. According to the study, astronauts landing in that region could collect samples that reveal information from more than 56 miles below the surface. This could provide insights into the moon’s history, as well as data on its geological changes over billions of years.
The Artemis III mission, set to bring astronauts to the moon, will aim for the south polar region, and if everything goes as planned, they might find this valuable material. However, NASA has adjusted its schedule, and the first crewed moon landing is now expected in 2028 with the Artemis IV mission.
These findings could be crucial in understanding the moon’s age and composition. Historical context adds depth here: when Apollo missions took place over 50 years ago, we returned samples that shaped our early understanding of the moon. Now, with improved technology and tools, researchers hope to gather even more detailed information that could unveil the moon’s evolution after it first formed over 4 billion years ago.
The study was published on May 7 in the journal Science Advances. As excitement builds for the upcoming Artemis missions, these insights reinforce the importance of lunar exploration for future generations. Collecting samples from the SPA basin might not only tell the story of the moon but could also inform wider questions about the evolution of other celestial bodies in our solar system.
To learn more about asteroids and their roles in our solar system, check out this article from Space.com.
