India counts down to risky Moon landing at south pole

[...]before the exploration can begin, India's space agency (ISRO) will have to put its faith in Vikram's autonomous landing system, which will attempt to place the four-legged lander gently on the Moon's surface. The presence of water at the lunar south pole also makes it an attractive potential outpost for future astronaut missions, as does the fact the area is thought to be rich in minerals such as magnesium, iron, calcium and titanium. Denevi says she's most excited about the orbiter's imaging infrared spectrometer, which will map light reflected off the lunar surface over a wide range of wavelengths.