China browses lunar landing spots in race to land on Moon

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.

At the same time, there are ...