The newly revised Artemis 3 timeline still keeps the United States ahead of China, which has said it plans to land astronauts on the moon by 2030. Both nations are targeting the lunar south pole, which is thought to be rich in water ice, a crucial resource for a settlement or research outpost.

Scientists have found that the moon's oldest crater is rounder than we thought, which may mean future moon astronauts in the region could find and study rocks from deep within the moon's mantle or crust.