VI
EN
Recently, a group of Italian scientists announced a significant discovery about the existence of a cave on the Moon. This cave is located in the Sea of Tranquility, 400 km from the Apollo landing site.
This location is not too far from the spot where astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Adlrin landed 55 years ago. This new discovery also offers a glimmer of hope that there may be hundreds more caves on Earth's natural satellite that could become shelters for future astronauts.
Scientists have found a "tunnel" beneath the surface of the Moon.
According to the Associated Press, this section of the cave lies within a deep pit similar to more than 200 other pits discovered around it, created by the eruption of a lava tube. Scientists say radar data has revealed a portion of the underground cave's entrance. They estimate it is at least 40 meters wide and tens of meters deep.
According to researchers, this discovery is significant because the cave on the Moon has remained a mystery for the past 50 years. Scientists also suspect the existence of hundreds of similar caves, as well as thousands of lava tubes on the lunar surface. Most of the craters are found in ancient lava plains, with potential locations at the Moon's South Pole – an area targeted for upcoming NASA missions later this decade.
Caves may have been an important way to protect astronauts from the harsh environment on the lunar surface.
These natural shelters could protect astronauts from cosmic rays, solar radiation, and the impact of small meteorites. The research team said that building the habitat from scratch would be more time-consuming and challenging, even considering the need to reinforce cave walls to prevent collapse.
However, the challenges are considerable. The Moon is a harsh environment, with temperatures ranging from extremely cold (equivalent to liquid nitrogen) to extremely hot (exceeding the boiling point of water on Earth), along with high levels of radiation. Dr. Daniel Brown, associate professor of astronomy at Nottingham Trent University, emphasized: "The environment on the Moon is extremely harsh. There is no atmosphere to support life." Therefore, building a stable, pressurized, and insulated living environment is a prerequisite for humans to survive and work there long-term.
The materials inside these caves, preserved from the harsh surface environment, could provide valuable insights into the geological history and volcanic activity of the Moon.
A lunar base would include living quarters, transportation, and energy generation systems such as solar panels. Living quarters would be equipped with beds, toilets, laboratories, and exercise equipment to counteract the effects of low gravity. Building materials are key, and lunar dust (regolith) has emerged as a strong candidate. With its exceptional reflective properties, regolith could be used to shield against radiation, heat, and space debris.
Food supply is another problem to solve. With a long stay on the Moon, astronauts may have to grow their own food. A lunar menu could include artificial beef grown from cells and plants that can thrive on regolith.
The southern region of the Moon, with its abundant ice reserves, is considered an ideal landing site. "The most essential element for a successful human community on the Moon is water," asserts Michelle Hanlon, a professor of space law at the University of Mississippi.
Extracting and processing lunar ice into hydrogen and oxygen is crucial for sustaining life and powering machinery. However, building the first lunar base is a complex task with many challenges. Malcolm Macdonald, a space technology engineer at the University of Strathclyde, believes that Artemis III (NASA's mission to return humans to the Moon) is unlikely to happen before 2028, and serious construction of a base on the lunar surface may not be undertaken until the 2030s.
