Could the Schrödinger “Grand Canyon” Basin Spell Disaster for NASA’s Artemis Mission?

Approximately 3.8 billion years ago, an asteroid struck the Moon according to a recent scientific study. As a result of the monumental impact, giant fissures appeared on the Moon creating two canyons likened to the Grand Canyon here on Earth. Labelled the Schrödinger Impact Basin, scientists believe their findings may aid and quell concerns for NASA’s Artemis mission. 

“A global lunar landing site analysis found that the Schrödinger impact basin is the best location for addressing National Research Council science objectives for lunar exploration, prompting geologic studies of the basin and analyses of potential landing sites for human and robotic missions,” the study read. 

What happened to the Moon when it was struck by a comet or asteroid

Scientists are unsure whether the canyons were caused by an impact from an asteroid or comment. Nonetheless, the results will favourably support upcoming lunar missions, namely, NASA’s Artemis mission where astronauts will explore the Moon’s south pole. 

But what happened that fateful day on the Moon? Around 3.8 billion years ago, outer-space material, most probably an asteroid, struck the lunar surface. Subsequently, the energy equivalent to 130 times the Earth’s total nuclear arsenal was emitted. Scientists say the impact area was “produced by the collapse of a central uplift.” Debris was then ejected, “carving two canyons that are comparable to Earth’s Grand Canyon in width and depth.” Scientists have identified Schrödinger to be the second youngest basin on the Moon. 

Scientists also said the Schrödinger basin, located in the outer margin of the famed Aitken Basin, is the “best analog surface expression” of the Chicxulub impact crater on Earth. The reason this is significant is because Chicxulub is connected to the strike that saw the extinction of the dinosaurs some 66 million years ago.

Why is the study relevant to NASA’s Artemis mission?

NASA’s Artemis astronauts are set to land on the Lunar south pole, projected in 2027. They will be tasked with seeking rock samples from the Aitken Basin. However, there are concerns that samples may be contaminated. Why? The spray from the Schrödinger basin could impact NASA’s ability to age the Aitken basin. Current estimates indicate Aitken is 4.2 billion years old, much older than Schrödinger. Artemis 3 has already faced backlash due to safety concerns. However, it’s yet to be confirmed if the possibility of contaminated samples will be a nail in the coffin for NASA’s mission. 

Astronauts will be canvasing the Aitken Basin in the Lunar south pole. The exploration zone is also approximately 125 km away from Schrödinger. Meaning, the strike that formed the Schrödinger basin, and the subsequent lunar debris may have ejected into this zone. Because Schrödinger is much younger than the Aitken basin, the dispersed material may have mixed with much older geological samples. These are the type of samples the Artemis astronauts are aiming to locate. Such samples will aid NASA in figuring out the true age of the Aitken basin and if water ice exists on the Moon. 

Will This Hinder NASA’s Artemis Exploration Efforts?

The major concern is that the target samples will be blended with other younger impacts – such as Schrödinger. However, scientists suggest “that most of the excavated debris was ejected away from the lunar south pole [and the Aitken basin], minimising the amount of debris that covers the > 4 billion year old units that will be explored by Artemis astronauts.” As such, there’s a sigh of relief from NASA that their samples may not be contaminated. Time will tell if the samples are what NASA hopes for. Or, if they’re much younger rocks from not to distant asteroid impacts.