How much ice exists at the Moon's south pole and why does it matter?

The answer

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and India's Chandrayaan-1 confirmed water ice deposits in permanently shadowed craters near the Moon's south pole, where temperatures plunge below -230°C. Estimates suggest these craters collectively hold hundreds of millions to billions of metric tons of water ice, delivered by comet impacts over billions of years. This ice is vital for future lunar habitation: it can be split into hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel and breathable air, and used directly for drinking water and radiation shielding. NASA's VIPER rover, originally scheduled for 2024, was designed to map ice deposits in Shackleton Crater but was cancelled due to cost overruns. Private companies and international agencies are developing alternative prospecting missions. The Artemis III landing site near the south pole was chosen partly to assess these ice resources. Control of lunar water deposits may become a geopolitical issue as multiple nations plan permanent lunar bases.