Artemis 2 pilot advocates for equatorial lunar landings
The pilot of the Artemis 2 mission said that the first crewed return to the Moon should begin in the less challenging equatorial regions before aiming for the south pole.
He emphasized that landing near the south pole poses technical difficulties such as extreme temperature swings, long shadows and complex navigation, which would increase risk to the crew.
A landing closer to the equator, by contrast, would offer better lighting conditions and more forgiving terrain, making system tests and acclimatization to the lunar surface easier.
The astronaut also noted that early resource‑demonstration experiments could be conducted there before more complex polar missions are undertaken.
While NASA has stated that the south‑pole priority stems from suspected water ice, the pilot argues a stepwise approach would be more prudent.
He concluded by calling for further studies that quantify the benefits of each site so that decision‑makers can act on solid data.