Space agencies have long been captivated by the Moon and the mysteries it holds. Sadly, many of our questions continue to go unanswered to this day, and this is why interest in lunar-centric space missions is growing at such a rapid pace today.
The Moon is tidally locked to the Earth, which means that we only get to see a single side of it at any given time. Most of humankind’s lunar science has taken place on this visible side of the Moon, but space agencies all around the globe are becoming more ambitious and hoping to study what many call the ‘dark side’ of the Moon – this is the side we can’t see from Earth.
The Moon’s South Pole is of particular interest to scientists because it’s believed to harbor small amounts of water ice. The Moon’s South Pole see more darkness than anywhere else, and because of this, water ice persists inside the Moon’s regolith and at the bottom of craters. This water ice could become a valuable resource if humankind ever builds colonies on the Moon.
As of now, the race to get to the Moon is on once again for the first time since the Apollo missions, and it remains to be seen who might get there first. Either way, it seems that some rather exciting times are just ahead.