There Are Underground Tunnels On The Moon And Here’s What It Means

Moon

For half a century, scientists have discussed the possibility of the existence of caves, galleries and natural channels underground. lunar surfacethe result of past volcanic activity of the Earth’s natural satellite. Recently, an international team of researchers led by scientists from the University of Trento (Italy) discovered a vast tunnel beneath the lunar soil for the first time. More than 200 pits have been discovered on the moon’s surface, some of which contain lunar skylights: openings formed by the collapse of an underlying hollow lava tube. However, it has not yet been confirmed whether these discoveries led to caves with large underground roomswhich is potentially critical for lunar exploration as it provides a more stable environment than the lunar surface.

Recently published in Nature AstronomyThe study reveals new evidence and suggests the existence of accessible underground pipelinee, which originates in an open hole on the moon. Scientists analyzed the data Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) radar in Mare Tranquillitatis, the deepest known on the Moon, has a radius of about 100 meters, vertical walls and a sloping floor. They observed an increase in radar brightness on the western side of the trench and, using image-based modeling, reconstructed topography of the areaindicating the presence of a channel in the cave, running from the western side of the bottom of the pit.

First tunnel on the moon discovered

An international team of researchers led by scientists from the University of Trento in Italy published a study in Nature Astronomy revealing a historic discovery on the moon: Confirmation of the first lunar underground tunnelApparently, the ancient lava channel is now empty.

In accordance with Lorenzo Buzzone, lead author of the studyThis discovery is the first to demonstrate the existence of these caves, which have been theorized for more than half a century. The discovery dates back to 2010, when Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission discovered a mysterious shaft in the Sea of ​​Tranquility, which is now interpreted as part of an underground tunnel system.

Through advanced signal processing techniquesResearchers have identified radar reflections consistent with the structure of an empty lava tube beneath the lunar surface. The discovery not only has important scientific implications, but could also impact the design of future lunar missions given the extremely inhospitable and challenging environment that the Moon presents.

Inhospitable environment

About 400 kilometers from the Apollo landing site Sea of ​​Tranquility It is a well-known lunar region for cave shelter exploration. Bruzzone said that although there are scientific indications pits or caves at the lunar polesMost evidence of its existence has been found in lunar maria and in areas with a history of volcanic activity. Although the exact number of these structures is unknown, it is believed that the Moon may have hundreds of caves and thousands of lava tubes distributed across its surface.

Thus, the results of the study provide important information about lunar geology and its potential significance for future manned missions to the Moon, given its extremely inhospitable environment for human life. Temperatures on the lunar surface can range from 127°C on the sunlit side to -173°C on the far side, in addition to intense cosmic and solar radiation and the constant threat of meteorite impacts.

“Importantly, solving the problems of building a lunar base on the surface would require very complex engineering solutions, potentially less efficient than those naturally offered by the cave environment. Building a lunar habitat inside a cave offers significant advantages over building on the surface, including protection from cosmic and solar radiation, thermal stability (as caves maintain stable temperatures even under extreme surface changes), protection from micrometeorites, and potential access to resources such as water ice and minerals,” he explains. Leonardo Carrera professor at the same university and co-author of the study, according to A country.

Possible lunar base?

The well, located in the Sea of ​​Tranquility, is one of the deepest known on the Moon. The structure is large enough to allow detection internal features with high resolution provided by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) radar.

While modeling suggests the cave would not be large enough to house the city, researchers believe it is large enough to serve as a lunar baseThere are many significant advantages to building a lunar base in a newly discovered cave like this one.

According to researchers, the cave provides the best protection from cosmic rays and solar radiation, which is dangerous to humans and is constantly present on the lunar surface. In addition, it provides thermal stability with a more stable temperature, as well as natural protection from micrometeorites created by the rocks that form the cave.