China Targets Volcanic Rimae Bode Region for First Crewed Moon Landing

China is focusing on the Rimae Bode region, a geologically diverse area on the Moon’s near side, as the prime candidate for its inaugural crewed lunar landing, planned before the finish of the decade. This region, situated at the boundary between the mare and highlands, offers a unique combination of scientific value and relatively safe landing conditions, according to recent research published in Nature Astronomy.

A Region Rich in Lunar History

The Rimae Bode region is considered scientifically valuable due to its varied terrain and materials, spanning long periods of lunar history. This makes it crucial for understanding the evolution of the Moon’s surface and interior. Its relatively flat ground and direct visibility from Earth also contribute to its appeal for mission planners. The area’s complex geological features include a dark mantle deposit, the Sinus Aestuum mare area, and two distinct areas of volcanic rilles.

Detailed Geological Assessment

Jun Huang, a professor at the China University of Geosciences in Wuhan, and colleagues conducted a detailed assessment of the Rimae Bode region using multiple sets of orbital images and data. Their research identified five distinct geological areas: a dark layer of volcanic debris, the basalt plain called Sinus Aestuum, two separate areas of rilles (long, narrow valleys formed by volcanic and tectonic activities), and the surrounding highlands.

Evidence of Ancient Volcanic Activity

By examining the shapes of the region’s channels and counting impact craters, the researchers reconstructed evidence of several separate volcanic events, the earliest being a pyroclastic eruption around 3.2–3.7 billion years ago. Rima Bode I includes volcanic rilles that are potential sources for the basalts in Sinus Aestuum, while Rima Bode II exhibits high abundances of thorium and titanium.

Proposed Landing Sites

Based on their findings, the team proposes four potential landing sites within Rimae Bode. These sites would allow astronauts to safely access a diversity of geological structures, including volcanic debris, mare basalts, high-thorium terrains, and impact-derived deposits. Such a collection of samples could provide insights into the geological evolution of the region and enhance our understanding of the lunar mantle composition and volcanic processes.

Future Considerations

The authors emphasize that safe surface operations will require careful evaluation of slopes, boulder distributions, and traverse distances, as well as higher-resolution mapping. Further investigations will refine these assessments and clarify the region’s potential for advancing our understanding of lunar volcanic and interior evolution.