As NASA's new SLS rocket prepares&nbsp;to blast off to space as part of the Artemis programme, the US space agency announced it had identified landing regions near the lunar South Pole for the Artemis III misson targeted for 2025.&nbsp;

"Selecting these regions means we are one giant leap closer to returning humans to the Moon for the first time since Apollo,” NASA's top official &nbsp;Mark Kirasich responsible for the Artemis said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nasas-massive-us-moon-rocket-emerges-for-debut-launch-507701">Also Read:&nbsp;NASA's massive US moon rocket emerges for debut launch</a>

Americans had last been to the Moon as part of the Apollo mission in 1972. NASA's Artemis project intends to put the first woman and the first person of colour on the Moon's surface.

Watch:&nbsp;NASA Satellite captures Britain turning brown due to drought

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Which landing regions on the Moon were identified?

NASA identified thirteen sites for the potential landing including Faustini Rim A, Peak Near Shackleton, Connecting Ridge, Connecting Ridge Extension, de Gerlache Rim 1 
de Gerlache Rim 2, de Gerlache-Kocher Massif, Haworth, Malapert Massif, Leibnitz Beta Plateau, Nobile Rim 1, Nobile Rim 2 and Amundsen Rim.

NASA said the lunar regions contain "diverse geologic features" and that it allows "flexibility to launch throughout the year".

How were the regions selected?

NASA said it had engaged scientists and engineers to assess the lunar South Pole using data from the lunar reconnaissance orbiter. The US space agency also took help from earlier publications and lunar science findings while evaluating regions based on their ability to accommodate safe landings.

NASA scientists studied terrain slope, ease of communication including lighting conditions.

It also assessed the space launch rocket systems, Orion spacecraft&nbsp;and the SpaceX starship landing system. The scientists said all sites had proximity to the lunar South Pole and were rich in resources with terrain unexplored by humans.

(With inputs from Agencies)

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As NASA's new SLS rocket prepares to blast off to space as part of the Artemis programme, the US space agency announced it had identified landing regions near the lunar South Pole for the Artemis III misson targeted for 2025.

As NASA's new SLS rocket prepares to blast off to space as part of the Artemis programme, the US space agency announced it had identified landing regions near the lunar South Pole for the Artemis III misson targeted for 2025. "Selecting these regions means we are one giant leap closer to returning humans to the Moon for the first time since Apollo,” NASA's top official Mark Kirasich responsible for the Artemis said. Also Read: NASA's massive US moon rocket emerges for debut launch Americans had last been to the Moon as part of the Apollo mission in 1972. NASA's Artemis project intends to put the first woman and the first person of colour on the Moon's surface. Watch: NASA Satellite captures Britain turning brown due to drought Which landing regions on the Moon were identified? NASA identified thirteen sites for the potential landing including Faustini Rim A, Peak Near Shackleton, Connecting Ridge, Connecting Ridge Extension, de Gerlache Rim 1 de Gerlache Rim 2, de Gerlache-Kocher Massif, Haworth, Malapert Massif, Leibnitz Beta Plateau, Nobile Rim 1, Nobile Rim 2 and Amundsen Rim. NASA said the lunar regions contain "diverse geologic features" and that it allows "flexibility to launch throughout the year". How were the regions selected? NASA said it had engaged scientists and engineers to assess the lunar South Pole using data from the lunar reconnaissance orbiter. The US space agency also took help from earlier publications and lunar science findings while evaluating regions based on their ability to accommodate safe landings. NASA scientists studied terrain slope, ease of communication including lighting conditions. It also assessed the space launch rocket systems, Orion spacecraft and the SpaceX starship landing system. The scientists said all sites had proximity to the lunar South Pole and were rich in resources with terrain unexplored by humans. (With inputs from Agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NASA's Moon landing sites for Artemis III mission: What are they?

US astronaut Alan Bean, the fourth person to walk on the moon, has died, his family announced in a statement released by NASA. He was 86 years old.

The moonwalker who went on to become a painter died Saturday in Houston after suddenly falling ill weeks before, the statement said.

He was among the elite group NASA chose for its third group of astronauts in 1963, having served as a test pilot in the US Navy.

He twice ventured into space, originally in 1969 on the Apollo 12 moon landing mission, and later as commander of the second crew to fly to the first US space station Skylab in 1973.

His second foray outside of Earth's atmosphere saw Bean log a record-breaking 59-day, 24.4 million-mile flight (39.3 million kilometers).

He retired from NASA in 1981 to embark on a third career as an artist, creating Apollo-themed paintings textured with lunar boot prints or using acrylics infused with small bits of his mission patches sprinkled with moon dust.

Fellow astronaut Harrison Schmitt called Bean "one of the great renaissance men of his generation -- engineer, fighter pilot, astronaut and artist."

Born March 15, 1932 in Wheeler, Texas the future moonwalker earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Texas in 1955.

He is survived by his wife, sister and two children from a prior marriage.

Walt Cunningham, who flew on Apollo 7 and called Bean his best friend of 55 years, said "we are accustomed to losing friends in our business but this is a tough one."

"Alan and I never missed a month where we did not have a cheeseburger."

In 1994 Bean told The New York Times the otherworldly perspectives he got in space inspired him to devote the latter half of his life to art, to the surprise of many of his colleagues.

"Every artist has the Earth or their imaginations to inspire their paintings," he said.

"I've got the Earth and my imagination, and I'm the first to have the moon, too."

The moonwalker who went on to become a painter died Saturday in Houston after suddenly falling ill weeks before, the statement said

US astronaut Alan Bean, the fourth person to walk on the moon, has died, his family announced in a statement released by NASA. He was 86 years old. The moonwalker who went on to become a painter died Saturday in Houston after suddenly falling ill weeks before, the statement said. He was among the elite group NASA chose for its third group of astronauts in 1963, having served as a test pilot in the US Navy. He twice ventured into space, originally in 1969 on the Apollo 12 moon landing mission, and later as commander of the second crew to fly to the first US space station Skylab in 1973. His second foray outside of Earth's atmosphere saw Bean log a record-breaking 59-day, 24.4 million-mile flight (39.3 million kilometers). He retired from NASA in 1981 to embark on a third career as an artist, creating Apollo-themed paintings textured with lunar boot prints or using acrylics infused with small bits of his mission patches sprinkled with moon dust. Fellow astronaut Harrison Schmitt called Bean "one of the great renaissance men of his generation -- engineer, fighter pilot, astronaut and artist." Born March 15, 1932 in Wheeler, Texas the future moonwalker earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Texas in 1955. He is survived by his wife, sister and two children from a prior marriage. Walt Cunningham, who flew on Apollo 7 and called Bean his best friend of 55 years, said "we are accustomed to losing friends in our business but this is a tough one." "Alan and I never missed a month where we did not have a cheeseburger." In 1994 Bean told The New York Times the otherworldly perspectives he got in space inspired him to devote the latter half of his life to art, to the surprise of many of his colleagues. "Every artist has the Earth or their imaginations to inspire their paintings," he said. "I've got the Earth and my imagination, and I'm the first to have the moon, too."

Moonwalking astronaut-artist Alan Bean dies at 86

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NASA's Moon landing sites for Artemis III mission: What are they?

Moonwalking astronaut-artist Alan Bean dies at 86