NASA to deploy lunar rover at Moon's south pole in 2028

NASA plans to send the PROMISE rover to the Moon's south pole in 2028 as part of its expanding lunar exploration programme. The rover will be equipped with a sophisticated drill designed to penetrate the lunar surface and extract regolith samples from beneath the topsoil.

The primary objective of the mission is to analyse the composition of subsurface materials, with particular focus on identifying and characterising ice deposits and other valuable resources. Such data will be instrumental in assessing the Moon's potential for sustained human presence and resource utilisation.

The south polar region has emerged as a focal point for lunar exploration efforts globally, owing to the presence of permanently shadowed craters believed to contain water ice. These deposits could prove essential for future missions, potentially serving as sources of water for drinking, oxygen production, and rocket fuel.

The PROMISE rover represents part of NASA's broader strategy to establish comprehensive knowledge of lunar geology and resource distribution ahead of planned crewed missions. The mission builds on decades of orbital observations and prior robotic exploration, translating satellite data into ground-level scientific investigation.