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NASA scientist claims astronauts could live in tunnel-like CAVES on the moon caused by ancient lava
NASA astronauts could one day live inside caves under the moon's surface formed long ago by lunar lava.
It could provide a natural shelter in which to build a future lunar base, according to a NASA astronaut in a Reddit-based Q&A.
These lava tubes are long, tunnel-like structures formed after the surface of a lava flow hardens before hollowing out.
The cave structures would provide a shield against both the moon's temperature fluctuations and harmful solar radiation — thereby cutting down on building costs.
NASA geoscientist Daniel Moriarty and colleagues discussed the possibility of future moonbases during a Reddit 'ask me anything' session on May 16, 2019.
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NASA astronauts could one day take live inside lava tubes (pictured, an artists impression of the end of a tube being discovered) just beneath the moon's surface, which would provide a natural shelter in which to build a future lunar base
The online Q&A session was focused on the upcoming 2024 moonshot — to be dubbed 'Artemis' — which the US space agency is working towards.
Questions turned, however, to the possibility of moonbases in the future and the steps that would be required to prepare the lunar surface for human inhabitants
'I don't think we're going to be able to change anything about the surface of the moon much,' Dr Moriarty wrote in response.
'Instead, I think it makes sense to work within some of the structures and resources that are already there.
'It could be interesting to set up shop within a pre-existing lava tube,' he added.
Setting up a base within an extinct lava tube, Dr Moriarty said, 'could provide astronauts with some shielding from temperature variations and incoming solar radiation.'
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Lava tubes are long, tunnel-like structures formed after the surface of a lava flow hardens and then its inside is emptied out, leaving a hollow behind (Pictured: a view of a 328-feet-deep crater in the Moon's Mare Tranquillitatis, which may connect to a lava tube)
Lava tubes are not the only one of the moon's resources that could be useful to develop a future lunar base, however.
In fact, this is the very plan of the China National Space Administration, which announced in April its plans to establish an international base near the moon's ice-rich south pole within the next decade.
The announcement of China's timeline for space exploration follows its first soft landing of a spacecraft, Chang’e-4, on the far side of the moon, back in the January of this year.
NASA had publicly announced their intention to have astronauts return to the moon back in March 2019.
'This time, when we go to the Moon, we will stay,' NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine has said.
The announcement of China's timeline for space exploration follows its first soft landing of a spacecraft, Chang’e-4 (pictured), on the far side of the moon, back in the January of this year
The space agency, he added, plans to use 'innovative, new technologies' to explore 'more locations across the lunar surface than ever before'.
'We will use what we learn as we move forward to the Moon to take the next giant leap – sending astronauts to Mars.'
These plans were accelerated in late March after US Vice President Mike Pence announced that the Trump administration wanted to see NASA sending astronauts back to the moon in five years' time.
Mr Pence made the comments during a speech at the fifth meeting of the National Space Council in Huntsville, Alabama.
In the Reddit question session, the NASA scientists said they were confident about achieving these goals, despite the accelerated time frame.
If successfully delivered, the upcoming moon landing will be the seventh manned US lunar expedition, following its previous excursions between 1969 and 1972.
The space agency is used to 'big challenges', with recent provisions in the US budget making the endeavours 'doable', the scientists added.
The 2024 Artemis mission will send the first woman to the moon's surface and aims to be the first crewed mission to land near the lunar south pole.
The full exchange between the NASA scientists and members of the public can be read on Reddit.
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