Researchers have found evidence of an underground cave on the moon, accessible from the surface, that could potentially be used to build a future lunar base.
The cave appears to be accessible from an open pit in the Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility), the ancient lava field where Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrinmany years ago.
Analysis of radar data by NASA has revealed that the pit in Mare Tranquillitatis leads to a cave 45 meters wide and up to 80 meters long, an area equivalent to 14 tennis courts. The cave lies about 150 meters below the moon's surface.
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Lorenzo Bruzzone, from the University of Trento in Italy, said such caves could be used as human habitats for future explorers, as they are "a natural refuge against the harsh lunar environment."
A lunar base or emergency shelter could be built there , because the temperature is relatively constant inside and astronauts would be naturally protected from harmful cosmic rays, solar radiation, and micrometeorites. The surface of the Moon is constantly exposed to micrometeorites that travel at high speeds and can cause serious damage to equipment and people. Underground caves provide a natural barrier that can prevent the impact of these small but dangerous objects.
A cave could also provide a safer environment for storing supplies and equipment on the moon for a longer period of time.
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Researchers want to further study such caves and the rocks inside them, as they are likely to hold clues to the moon's formation and volcanic history. The caves may also contain water ice, which is essential for long-term lunar missions.
At least 200 pits have been identified on the moon, and many could be entrances to cavernous cavities. "The main advantage of caves is that they have the main structural parts of a possible human base without requiring complex construction activities," said Leonardo Carrer, the study's first author.
In preparation for humans returning to the moon, space agencies are already wondering how to assess a cave's structural stability. Habitats may also need monitoring systems to warn of movement or seismic activity and have separate areas where astronauts can take refuge if parts of their cave collapse.
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"Lunar cave systems have been proposed as excellent places to locate future crew bases, as the thick rock is ideal for protecting people and infrastructure from the varying temperature fluctuations of the lunar surface during the day and night, and blocking the radiation that bathes the lunar surface," said Katherine Joy, a professor at the University of Manchester. "However, we currently know very little about the underground structures beneath these entrances."
Source: www.theguardian.com
