Phil Stooke on Nostr: In May 1970 the Apollo Site Selection Board chose Descartes as the Apollo 16 site, ...

In May 1970 the Apollo Site Selection Board chose Descartes as the Apollo 16 site, north of the crater Descartes itself. A highland site was important after two basalt plains and the hilly Apollo 14 site (Imbrium basin ejecta), but planners also wanted a location with non-mare volcanism (i.e. not basalt lava), especially if it brought up deep crustal material. Two crater chains called Davy and Abulfeda were candidates but had accessibility issues. Here are sites at Davy. #maps #moon #Apollo