Later this year, two ambitious missions are set for launch to land near Shackleton Crater on the Moon’s south pole. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin is sending its largest ever lander, named Endurance, while China's Chang'e 7 mission will include an orbiter, rover and hopper drone. Both spacecraft are due to lift off perhaps in late summer from Florida or Hainan Island.

The crater holds a vast reservoir of water ice, and both missions aim to explore this precious resource. Endurance is expected to be the largest lunar lander ever built, surpassing NASA's Apollo-era modules in size. Chang'e 7 features a smaller lander but also includes additional spacecraft for comprehensive exploration.

Both launches are part of an ongoing race not just for scientific discovery but for strategic positioning as nations vie for access to resources on the Moon. The timing is significant as both missions could potentially operate simultaneously, highlighting the growing international interest in lunar exploration and resource utilization.