China browses lunar landing spots in race to land on Moon
(2026/03/09)
- Reference: 1773078546
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2026/03/09/china_browses_lunar_landing_spots/
- Source link:
Researchers from China are narrowing down the landing sites for the nation’s first crewed mission to the Moon, set to take place before 2030.
Using multiple orbital datasets, a team from China University of Geosciences in Wuhan has put forward four potential landing sites within the Rimae Bode region, which they say could give astronauts access to a diverse range of geological materials.
The region near the middle of the Moon's near side, just above the equator, offers volcanic debris, mare basalts (iron-rich igneous rocks), and high‑thorium terrains, which contain rare-Earth metals. The part near the highlands on the central lunar nearside may be of interest to scientists because of its varied terrain and the materials on the surface. The age range of materials also makes it important for understanding how the Moon’s surface and interior have changed over time.
[1]
At the same time, there are practical benefits. It is relatively flat and is directly visible from Earth.
[2]
[3]
Maosheng Yang and colleagues examined the region’s channels and impact craters to conclude that there were likely several separate volcanic events at different times in the region. Readers will be able to see the appeal in this [4]handy fly-over video .
[5]China says its lunar lander passed Luna-landing and take-off tests
[6]China to visit Earth's 'quasi-moon' and bring a chunk of it back home
[7]Ex-NASA chief: China likely to land humans on Moon before Uncle Sam does again
[8]We'll beat China to the Moon, NASA nominee declares
In a paper published in Nature Astronomy, the authors said: “Based on this information, we propose four prospective landing sites in the traversable areas, which provide a range of diverse geological samples ... Such a collection may provide insights into the geological evolution of the region and enhance our understanding of the lunar mantle composition and volcanic processes.”
The planned lunar landing as part of China’s crewed space program raises the prospect of a renewed space race, as US astronauts now plan to revisit Earth’s natural satellite in 2028.
Earlier this month, [9]NASA reorganized its Artemis program , moving the first crewed lunar landing in more than half a century to Artemis IV. Artemis III is now set to test systems and operations in low Earth orbit, including docking and integrated checkout with a commercial lunar lander.
[10]
Artemis III is penciled in for 2027 and Artemis IV is set to launch in 2028. The mission change follows findings from a recent report by NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), which warned that Artemis III was trying to do too much at once. ®
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[4] https://youtu.be/MosIUXiCD2Y
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/11/china_lunar_lander_test_success/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/29/china_tianwen_2_probe_launch/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/04/jim_bridenstine_nasa_moon/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/12/04/beat_china_moon_nasa_nominee/
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[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Using multiple orbital datasets, a team from China University of Geosciences in Wuhan has put forward four potential landing sites within the Rimae Bode region, which they say could give astronauts access to a diverse range of geological materials.
The region near the middle of the Moon's near side, just above the equator, offers volcanic debris, mare basalts (iron-rich igneous rocks), and high‑thorium terrains, which contain rare-Earth metals. The part near the highlands on the central lunar nearside may be of interest to scientists because of its varied terrain and the materials on the surface. The age range of materials also makes it important for understanding how the Moon’s surface and interior have changed over time.
[1]
At the same time, there are practical benefits. It is relatively flat and is directly visible from Earth.
[2]
[3]
Maosheng Yang and colleagues examined the region’s channels and impact craters to conclude that there were likely several separate volcanic events at different times in the region. Readers will be able to see the appeal in this [4]handy fly-over video .
[5]China says its lunar lander passed Luna-landing and take-off tests
[6]China to visit Earth's 'quasi-moon' and bring a chunk of it back home
[7]Ex-NASA chief: China likely to land humans on Moon before Uncle Sam does again
[8]We'll beat China to the Moon, NASA nominee declares
In a paper published in Nature Astronomy, the authors said: “Based on this information, we propose four prospective landing sites in the traversable areas, which provide a range of diverse geological samples ... Such a collection may provide insights into the geological evolution of the region and enhance our understanding of the lunar mantle composition and volcanic processes.”
The planned lunar landing as part of China’s crewed space program raises the prospect of a renewed space race, as US astronauts now plan to revisit Earth’s natural satellite in 2028.
Earlier this month, [9]NASA reorganized its Artemis program , moving the first crewed lunar landing in more than half a century to Artemis IV. Artemis III is now set to test systems and operations in low Earth orbit, including docking and integrated checkout with a commercial lunar lander.
[10]
Artemis III is penciled in for 2027 and Artemis IV is set to launch in 2028. The mission change follows findings from a recent report by NASA's Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel (ASAP), which warned that Artemis III was trying to do too much at once. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
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[4] https://youtu.be/MosIUXiCD2Y
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2025/08/11/china_lunar_lander_test_success/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/29/china_tianwen_2_probe_launch/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2025/09/04/jim_bridenstine_nasa_moon/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/12/04/beat_china_moon_nasa_nominee/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2026/03/02/nasa_artemis_reshuffle/
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[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
I prefer ...
Paul Herber
this one ...
"I take a bottle of wine and I go drink it among the flowers,
We are always three
Counting my shadow and my friend
The shimmering moon
Happily the moon knows nothing of drinking
And my shadow is never thirsty,
When I sing the moon listens to me in silence
When I dance, my shadow dances too
After all festivities the guests must depart
This sadness I do not know
When I go home, the moon goes with me
And my shadow follows me" ~ Li Bai
From his name, Li Bai, we get the words "libation" meaning a drink, and "libration" , one of the words to describe the orbital interactions of the Moon and the Earth. The yang of linguistic coincidences.
And not many people know that! Or care.
Re: I prefer ...
indianaUSA
Not something I expected to see as I popped open theREG today.
I have not read this poem before, kinda like it and I can somewhat relate.
Thank You Paul
Poetry of Li Po: Drinking Alone With the Moon
From a pot of wine among the flowers
I drank alone. There was no one with me --
Till, raising my cup, I asked the bright moon
To bring me my shadow and make us three.
Alas, the moon was unable to drink
And my shadow tagged me vacantly;
But still for a while I had these friends
To cheer me through the end of spring....
I sang. The moon encouraged me.
I danced. My shadow tumbled after.
As long as I knew, we were boon companions.
And then I was drunk, and we lost one another.
...Shall goodwill ever be secure?
I watch the long road of the River of Stars.