Mapping Moon South Pole Aitken-Basin Mineralogy For Future Landing Sites

Oldest, Largest, Well-Preserved South Pole-Aitken Basin, Nearly 1/4 Of Moon Diameter At 2,500 km, Is Area Of Most Recent Study Led By Brown University Prof. Carle Pieters & Daniel Moriarty Of GSFC; Using Data From USA Imaging Spectrometer ‘Moon Mineralogy Mapper’ Aboard ISRO Chandrayaan-1, Compositions Of Deposits From Volcanic Activity And Exposed Mantle Material Detected; Chemical / Mineral Analysis, Age Calculations And Especially Sample Return Missions Can Help Determine History Of Early Evolution Of Moon & Solar System, Be Compared To Previous Apollo / Other Sample Returns, Define Vital Zones For Exploration

Credits: NASA, ISRO, Brown University, Goddard Space Flight Center