Artemis Science: Exploring the Moon’s South Pole

Released Friday, August 22, 2025

ID: 14886

- Produced by:
- Dan Gallagher
- Scientific consulting by:
- Kelsey Young
- Visualizations by:
- Ernie Wright

By sending astronauts to collect samples from the Moon’s South Pole, NASA’s Artemis missions may uncover clues to the formation of the solar system.

Complete transcript available.

Universal Production Music: “Transitions” by Harry Gregson Williams [BMI] and Ben Andrew [PRS]; “Love on the Moon” by Sebastian Barnaby Robertson [BMI] and Yaacov Kobi Hokima [BMI]

Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.

The Moon is our nearest celestial neighbor, orbiting Earth at less than a quarter of a million miles on average. Now, for the first time since 1972, NASA is preparing to send astronauts to the Moon with the Artemis missions. Artemis III will target landing sites near the lunar South Pole. There, ancient rocks, minerals, and trapped water ice will not only provide resources for human explorers, they may also contain clues to the formation and evolution of our planet and the solar system.

VERTICAL VIDEO – Artemis II Lunar Science Lead Kelsey Young discusses the return of astronauts to the Moon. Formatted for smartphone viewing.

Watch this video on NASA Goddard's YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, Facebook, and X.

For More Information

See https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/artemis-science/

Planets & Moons

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Producer
- Dan Gallagher (eMITS)
Scientist
- Kelsey Young (NASA/GSFC)
Visualizer
- Ernie Wright (USRA)
Videographers
- Rob Andreoli (eMITS)
- John D. Philyaw (eMITS)
Animators
- Chris Smith (eMITS)
- Brian Monroe (USRA)
Editor
- Dan Gallagher (eMITS)
Launch commentator
- Derrol Nail
Public affairs
- Lonnie Shekhtman (ADNET Systems, Inc.)
- Molly Wasser (ADNET Systems, Inc.)
Support
- Caela Barry (ADNET Systems, Inc.)
Technical support
- Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET Systems, Inc.)