Scientists have identified caves on the moon not far from where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed 55 years ago, and they speculate that there are hundreds more that could be habitable for future astronauts.
An Italian-led team of researchers reported Monday that they have evidence of a sizable cavern accessible through the deepest hole on the moon’s surface. The cavern is located in the Mare Tranquility, just 250 miles (400 kilometers) from the Apollo 11 landing site.
The hole, like over 200 others discovered there, was formed by the collapse of a lava tube.
The researchers analyzed radar measurements from NASA’s lunar rover and compared their findings to lava tubes on Earth, and their findings were published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
Scientists say the radar data has revealed only the first part of the underground chamber, which they estimate to be at least 130 feet (40 meters) wide and tens of yards (meters) long, possibly more.
“The lunar caves have remained a mystery for more than 50 years, so it was exciting to finally prove their existence,” Leonardo Carrell and Lorenzo Bruzzone of the University of Trento said in an email to The Associated Press.
NASA’s Apollo program landed 12 astronauts on the moon, beginning with Armstrong and Aldrin on July 20, 1969.
The discovery suggests that the Moon may contain hundreds of holes and thousands of lava tubes.
of Nature Study He said the cave “could provide refuge from the harsh surface environment and support long-term human exploration of the Moon, making it a promising site for a lunar base.”
But building a habitat from scratch would be more time-consuming and difficult, the team said, even taking into account that cave walls may need to be reinforced to prevent collapse.
British astronaut Helen Sharman He told CBS partner BBC News. Humans may be able to take refuge in these lunar holes in 20 to 30 years’ time, but because the caves are so deep, they may require “jetpacks or lifts” to escape.
The rocks and other materials in these caves, unchanged by hundreds of millions of years of harsh surface conditions, could help scientists better understand how the Moon evolved, particularly its volcanic activity.
Scientists around the world are constantly accumulating research findings on the Moon. Just a few weeks ago, China’s Chang’e-6 lunar probe returns to Earth after collecting rock and soil samples From the surface of the moon. Chinese scientists hope that the discovery will shed light on the differences between the two sides of the moon, each with its own unique geographical features.
