Multiple Countries Racing to Explore Moon's South Pole as Space Race Reemerges

Russia, India, China, and the US have all launched or plan to launch missions targeting the lunar south pole region.
The area is of high interest due to the potential presence of water ice deposits.
Russia recently launched its first lunar mission in decades, Luna-25, which is now orbiting the moon.
India's Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft is also currently orbiting the moon ahead of a planned landing.
The US aims to land astronauts at the south pole by 2025, with China also planning crewed missions by the end of the decade.