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NASA Warns China Could Block Access to Lunar South Pole
NASA says China may try to reach an important part of the Moon before the United States.
The area is near the Moon's south pole and includes Shackleton Crater.
Some parts of the crater never receive sunlight.
Scientists think these dark areas may contain frozen water.
Water could be useful for future Moon missions.
Spacecraft may need safety zones around their landing sites, which could make it harder for other spacecraft to land nearby.
China's Chang'e 7 mission was delayed last month.
NASA may now have time to send probes there first using a Blue Origin lander planned for 2027.
Both countries see lunar exploration as an important step toward future missions, including trips to Mars.
NASA chief Jared Isaacman warned that China could reach valuable lunar south-pole sites first and limit U.S. access.
China's Chang'e 7 mission has targeted Shackleton Crater, which contains permanently shadowed regions believed to hold water ice.
Isaacman said safety rules may require one- to five-kilometer exclusion zones around lunar landing craft.
Chang'e 7 was delayed last month, potentially giving NASA time to reach the area first.
Blue Origin's Blue Moon Mark 1 is planned for spring 2027 with two NASA probes destined for the lunar south pole.
- Who
- NASA chief Jared Isaacman warned about China's lunar plans; NASA and China are developing missions to the lunar south pole.
- What
- China's Chang'e 7 mission could reach Shackleton Crater first and potentially restrict access to nearby lunar sites.
- Where
- The competition concerns the Moon's south pole, especially Shackleton Crater.
- When
- Isaacman spoke on Wednesday; Chang'e 7 was delayed last month, while NASA's Blue Moon Mark 1 mission is planned for spring 2027.
- Why
- The region may contain water ice and other useful materials, and an early landing could establish an exclusion zone around the site.
Key facts
- NASA official
- Jared Isaacman
- Targeted location
- Shackleton Crater at the lunar south pole
- Potential resources
- Water ice and other useful material in permanently shadowed regions
- Chinese mission
- Chang'e 7, involving an orbiter, lander, rover and mobile hopper
- Possible exclusion zones
- One to five kilometers around landing craft
- Planned U.S. mission
- Blue Origin's Blue Moon Mark 1, carrying two NASA probes
- Planned launch timing
- Spring 2027
- China's stated lunar ambition
- Sending astronauts to the Moon, potentially by 2030
Quotes
Jared Isaacman
NASA chief who warned about China’s lunar south-pole plans
“It has rovers, it has hopper drones like we now have in development but didn't eight months ago, and could have potentially denied access to some of the most interesting spots.”
NDTV
“We may have dodged a bullet with the Chang'e 7 mission a couple of weeks ago because that would have gone to the Shackleton crater.”
NDTV
Sources
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