NASA Finds New Evidence of Cave Network on Moon

An international team of scientists uses the probe’s data MRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) POT discovered new evidence pointing to the existence of a network of caves beneath the surface of the Moon.

By re-analyzing the radar data collected by the instrument. Mini-RF (miniature radio frequency) LRO in 2010 yearthe team found evidence a cave more than 60 meters long from the base of the well.

The borehole is located more than 370 kilometers northeast of the first site of man’s landing on the moon, Sea of ​​TranquilityThe full extent of the cave is unknown, but it may extend for several miles underwater.

Scientists have spent decades suspicion that the Moon has underground caves, just like Earth. Holes that could lead to caves were found in images taken by NASA’s lunar orbiters that mapped the Moon’s surface. before NASA’s manned landing on the Moon as part of the Apollo mission.

Similar in origin to terrestrial lava tubes.

IN year 2009 The existence of the pit was confirmed in images taken by the orbiter. Kaguya from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), and many of them have since been discovered on the Moon using images and thermal measurements of the surface taken by LRO.

Just like lava tubes Scientists suspect that lunar caves found here on Earth formed when molten lava flowed beneath a cooled lava field, or when a crust formed over a river of lava, leaving a long hollow tunnel.

If the roof of a solidified lava tube collapses, the well opensas a skylight that could lead to the rest of the cavernous tube.

LRO probe (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter)

He Mini-RF It is managed by the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, and the LRO space probe is operated by Goddard Space Flight Center from NASA in Greenbelt, Maryland, to the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

LRO, launched on June 18, 2009, has collected a treasure trove of data with its seven powerful toolswho made an invaluable contribution to human knowledge of the Moon.

NASA is returning to our planet’s moon with commercial and international partners to expand human presence in space (the goal is to build a base that will serve as a stopover for longer space travel).