Scientists Have Found a Cave on the Moon That Could Serve as a Base for Astronauts
Scientists have confirmed the existence of a cave on the Moon, not far from where Neil Armstrong landed, which could potentially house future astronauts.
An Italian research team presented evidence on Monday of a large cave, accessible from the deepest known pit on the Moon. This cave is located in the Sea of Tranquility, only 400 kilometers from the Apollo 11 landing site.
The pit, like over 200 others discovered, was formed by the collapse of a lava tube. Researchers analyzed radar measurements taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and compared the results with lava tubes on Earth. Their findings, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, reveal that the cave is at least 40 meters wide and several dozen meters long, though its exact size remains to be determined.
"Lunar caves have been a mystery for over 50 years. So it has been exciting to finally demonstrate the existence of one," wrote Leonardo Carrer and Lorenzo Bruzzone from the University of Trento.
Most pits appear to be located in the Moon's ancient lava plains, according to the scientists. There might also be some at the Moon's south pole, the planned landing site for NASA astronauts by the end of this decade. The craters near the south pole, always in shadow, likely contain frozen water, a valuable resource for future space missions.
The findings suggest that there could be hundreds of pits on the Moon and thousands of lava tubes. These locations could serve as natural shelters for astronauts, protecting them from cosmic rays, solar radiation, and micrometeorite impacts.
Besides their potential as shelters, these caves offer unique opportunities for scientific research. The rocks and other materials inside, preserved from the extreme surface conditions, can provide crucial information about the Moon's geological history, especially its past volcanic activity.
Building habitats from scratch would take longer and pose a greater challenge, even considering the potential need to reinforce cave walls to prevent collapse, the team states. These natural cavities present a major advantage: they could be used much more quickly and easily than constructing entirely new structures on the lunar surface.