Elevation Changes and Slope that May Affect EVA Workload Near Potential Artemis Landing Sites

The Artemis exploration zone lies within 6 degrees latitude of the lunar south pole. It is a topographically complex highland region with a crater >3 times deeper than Earth's Grand Canyon and massifs comparable to Mt. Everest in elevation. To support future landing in this zone, we consider two questions: (i) what elevation changes and surface slopes might be encountered at potential landing sites; and (ii) what type of workload would be required of a 'walking' extravehicular activity (EVA) within 2,000 m of a lander? To address the first question, we examined potential Artemis landing sites 001, 004, 007, 011, 102, and 105. At site 001, slopes are generally <10 degrees along a ridge towards Shackleton crater, although intervals have slopes approaching 20 degrees and the ridge is bounded by flanks with >20 degrees slopes. In the opposite direction, the slope exceeds 10 degrees within 1,000 m of the site. From a landing location near site 001, a similar to 60 m diameter permanently shadowed region (PSR) suitable for studies of volatile elements is accessible along a 650 m traverse with only a similar to 20 m section on a similar to 16 degrees slope. If accessed from the west, the same PSR can be entered on a similar to 8 degrees slope on a similar to 850 m traverse. At site 004, traverses would be limited to the rim crest of Shackleton crater, which is bounded by a crater wall with slope similar to 30 degrees on one side and crater ejecta with slope >= 15 degrees on the other side. If one stays on the crater rim, slopes are generally <10 degrees. Within 2,000 m of site 001 the relief is similar to 500 m, while a maximum elevation change along a potential traverse is similar to 140 m. The corresponding values (relief and maximum traverse elevation change) for other potential landing sites are 1,330 m, 80 m (site 004); 380 m, 90 m (007); 520 m, 90 m (011); 520 m, 40 m (102); and 240 m, 40 m (105). Thus, while the topography of the south polar region is dramatic in places, it offers both productive EVA locations with elevation and slope values not much larger than those experienced by the Apollo crews and locations with progressively more severe topography for the development of EVA exploration capabilities.