The Race to Explore the Moon's South Pole

In this episode, we delve into the exciting race to explore the Moon's South Pole and the implications it holds for future lunar exploration. Two spacecraft, Russia's Lunar 25 and India's Chandrayaan 3, are set to be the first to successfully land near the South Pole, with the primary objective of finding signs of water and other volatiles.

The South Pole of the Moon is of particular interest because it offers the best hope for discovering water, a crucial resource for establishing a permanent, inhabited lunar base. This region is characterized by areas of eternal night and craters within craters, which act as cold traps that may potentially contain water and other volatiles.

The missions of Lunar 25 and Chandrayaan 3 aim to collect samples from the South Pole and analyze them to determine the presence of water ice. The findings from these missions could have significant implications for future lunar exploration and the establishment of a sustainable lunar base.

However, the race to explore the Moon's South Pole is not just about scientific discovery. It is also a reflection of the geopolitical tensions on Earth. Different countries and companies are vying for lunar exploration and exploitation, leading to a lack of consensus on the cosmos.

For instance, the Russian and Chinese space agencies have announced plans to build an International Lunar Research Station, while the US-led Artemis program aims to return Americans to the Moon and establish a base there. These collaborations and priorities are influenced by the geopolitical landscape on Earth.

Furthermore, the current system of regulation for governing space is a work in progress. There are concerns about national security and the potential for conflict in space, which adds another layer of complexity to the race for lunar exploration.

Ultimately, the Moon is seen as a consequence, rather than a causal factor, of geopolitical tensions on Earth. As we witness the race to explore the Moon's South Pole unfold, it becomes clear that the future of lunar exploration is not just about scientific advancements but also about navigating the complexities of international relations and space governance.

In the coming days, both Russia and India hope to land robotic probes near the South Pole of the Moon. Conquering the South Pole remains one of the grandest challenges in lunar science, but it’s a potentially rewarding endeavour. If evidence of water is found it will make human settlements much more likely. 

But the significance of the missions racing for the Moon, Luna-25 and Chandrayaan-3, go beyond science. Russia’s space agency has become isolated after the country’s invasion of Ukraine, while India’s space agency seeks to raise its profile. In an increasingly polarised world, is there any hope for an international agreement on humanity’s use of the Moon?

Sam Dayala, a former director at the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology and India’s space agency, explains the aims of Chandrayaan-3. Simeon Barber, a planetary scientist at the Open University who works with the European Space Agency, discusses Russia’s Luna missions and why his drilling package has been removed from the Luna-27 probe. Natan Eismont of the Russian Academy of Sciences explains his desire for renewed global collaboration, despite the political backdrop. Plus, Asif Siddiqi of Fordham University and Raji Rajagopalan of the Observer Research Foundation, reflect on the stakes if a consensus on the use of the Moon isn’t agreed internationally. Gilead Amit, The Economist’s science correspondent, hosts, with Oliver Morton, a senior editor at The Economist.

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