Moon cave discovery could pave way for lunar base for humans

Scientists believe a cave found on the Moon could house astronauts on future missions

An artist's impression of the lunar pit on the Mare Tranquillitatis, which houses an accessible cave. Nasa

A scientist who helped to uncover an underground cave on the Moon believes it could provide an "alternative habitat" to astronauts amid international efforts to create a permanent base on the lunar surface for humans.

A study on the discovery of the 100-metre-deep cave was published in the Nature science journal on Monday by scientists at the University of Trento in Italy along with an international team of researchers.

The findings back up long-held speculation from the scientific community over the existence of a network of underground caves on the Moon.

"These caves can be alternative habitat for future astronauts with respect to a base on the Moon surface," Dr Lorenzo Bruzzone of the University of Trento, and one of the lead authors of the study, told The National.

Dr Bruzzone and his colleague Leonardo Carrer identified the cave by using radar to examine a pit on Mare Tranquillitatis, a rocky plain visible from Earth and the landing site of Apollo 11 in 1969.

Shelter for astronauts

Humans have not landed on the Moon since the Apollo era, but space agencies now have a renewed interest in setting up bases on the lunar surface.

Nasa is working with international partners, including the UAE, to develop a lunar-orbiting station, where astronauts will live and then descend to the surface to carry out science research.

China is also trying to build a lunar base that would involve robots and astronauts.

A lunar lava tube photographed on the Moon. Image: Nasa

"The main feature of caves is that they make available the main structural parts of a possible human base without requiring complex construction activities," said Dr Bruzzone.

Mahesh Anand, professor of planetary science and exploration at the UK-based The Open University, said that a lunar habitat inside a cave would be less hostile than what astronauts would experience on the lunar surface.

"For example, there would less fluctuation in ambient temperature between lunar day and night and more protection from space radiation and micrometeorite impacts," he said.

"However, getting access to 100m deep chute would be a challenge and would require innovative engineering solutions for establishing a sustainable habitat."

But there are also potential risks involved if astronauts were to use the cave as a habitat, including ensuring it is structurally stable and secure, according to Dr Bruzzone.

"What is important is that now we have identified an accessible cave that could be the target of a future robotic mission with a lander to explore, measure and understand better the conditions on these caves," he said.

Moon's rich history

The discovery could also help advance scientists' understanding of the Moon's geological history.

Dr Bruzzone said that the caves are a unique environment that preserve the history of the Moon and that analysing the rocks within could lead to new discoveries on lunar evolution.

"Analysing lunar cave rocks that are not altered by the harsh lunar surface environment can provide significant insights into key scientific questions such as the timeline and duration of lunar volcanic activity as well as the actual composition of the lunar mantle," he said.

The caves may also contain water ice, which Dr Bruzzone said is essential for long-term lunar missions.