Re: The next step in lunar ice exploration?
We need to learn a bit more about the deposits before we send a lander, imho.
Is it going to need to dig or drill to find these deposits? If so, how deep? and through what sort of toughness? Are we talking ice-cemented permafrost of a concrete-like consistency, or midly ice-coated regolith grains?
The Viking/phoenic type trenching arm *may* be adequate, but let's think a bit about the range of compounds observed and their likely surface/subsurface habitat.