Should Artemis IV astronauts actually land near the moon's south pole? Artemis II pilot says the lunar equator might be better
Artemis II pilot Victor Glover has suggested that NASA should prioritize landing near the lunar equator rather than the south pole for early Artemis missions. He argues that equatorial regions offer better safety, easier emergency return paths, and consistent daylight.
Why it matters
This debate highlights the tension between scientific goals, such as searching for water ice at the poles, and the practical safety requirements of human spaceflight.
Missions Artemis Should Artemis IV astronauts actually land near the moon's south pole? Artemis II pilot says the lunar equator might be better News By Josh Dinner Published 23 July 2026 Victor Glover has a thing or two to say about NASA's lunar landing plans.
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Click for next article Artist's illustration showing SpaceX's Starship (left) and Blue Origin's Blue Moon landers on the surface of the moon. (Image credit: SpaceX/Blue Origin) Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter The moon's south pole has long been the target of NASA's Artemis lunar landing missions, but one Artemis astronaut is questioning if that's still the best plan.
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