Radar data suggests the presence of a deep cave, which could provide shelter from the harsh lunar environment
A new study led by Italian researchers suggests that a large cave at the bottom of a deep crater on the Moon could provide shelter for humans during extended lunar expeditions.
A paper published in the Nature Astronomy journal on Monday describes radar data gathered by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) in 2010. The data indicates that the Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquillity) pit could be a suitable location for a future base for lunar exploration.
The crater, located approximately 400 km from Tranquility Base, where the Apollo 11 mission landed in 1969, is the deepest known lunar pit, extending more than 100 meters below the surface.
Data collected by the LRO’s Mini-RF instrument suggests that the pit may be a “skylight” above a sloping cave floor that is 150 meters deep, 45 meters wide, and 80 meters long, according to Lorenzo Bruzzone, a researcher at the University of Trento in Italy.
The cave, “probably an empty lava tube”, could offer protection for human habitats, Bruzzone said. He added that there may also be reserves of frozen water within the cave, a valuable resource for any manned mission.
The lunar surface is exposed to various hazards for humans, including space radiation, cosmic rays, and micrometeorites. One proposed solution for mitigating these hazards is to construct bases underground.
Scientists have long theorized that some lunar pits may lead to lava caves, which could serve as protective shelters. However, the stability of these caves may be a concern, requiring reinforcement of the walls and ceiling.
”The main advantage of caves is that they make available the main structural parts of a possible human base without requiring complex construction activities,” said Leonardo Carrer, the lead author of the study.
Beyond their practical benefits, lava tubes could contain rock and soil samples that have been untouched by the degrading conditions on the lunar surface. These samples could provide valuable insights into the formation of the Moon and its seismic activity.