The Distribution and Accessibility of Geologic Targets near the Lunar South Pole and Candidate Artemis Landing Sites

Abstract Transformative lunar science will be driven by the accessibility, recovery, and return to Earth of geological specimens. Isolated boulders, rock exposures, rocky craters at south pole all provide opportunities for geologic characterization sampling crust. Here, we present results orbital mapping region surrounding using Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Narrow Angle Camera images (0.5–2 m pixel −1 ). We mapped distribution isolated boulders (86,896), (3556), exposures (7553) around potential Artemis landing sites 001 004 (NASA 2020), which are within or near one III candidate regions. found that boulder abundance decreases with increasing distance from rim Shackleton crater. From correlation, infer most were deposited as ejecta impact, later reworking material during smaller impact events. additionally assessed accessibility features, documented targets located on shallow (<15°) slopes, including those crater “Connecting Ridge” between Henson Such could sampled a future mission region. Our catalog features is made available community.