NASA's LRO Uncovers Vast Cave Beneath Moon’s Surface

In a groundbreaking discovery, an international team of scientists has revealed evidence of extensive caves beneath the Moon’s surface, using data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). This finding could be pivotal in establishing a future human presence on the lunar surface.

By re-analyzing radar data collected by LRO’s Miniature Radio-Frequency (Mini-RF) instrument in 2010, the team identified a cave extending more than 200 feet from the base of a pit. The pit is located approximately 230 miles northeast of the Apollo 11 landing site in Mare Tranquillitatis. While the full extent of the cave remains unknown, it is speculated to stretch for miles beneath the lunar mare.

For decades, scientists have hypothesized the existence of subsurface caves on the Moon, similar to those on Earth. Initial clues came from images taken by NASA’s lunar orbiters prior to the Apollo missions. Confirmation came in 2009, when Japan’s Kaguya orbiter captured images of a pit, and numerous pits have since been found through LRO’s imagery and thermal measurements.

Lorenzo Bruzzone from the University of Trento in Italy commented on the discovery, stating, “The cave is probably an empty lava tube, a natural shelter against the harsh lunar environment, which could serve as human habitats for future explorers.”

The Mare Tranquillitatis pit, the deepest known on the Moon, leads to a cave approximately 45 meters wide and up to 80 meters long, covering an area equivalent to 14 tennis courts. Located about 150 meters beneath the surface, this cave could provide a stable environment for a lunar base, offering natural protection from cosmic rays, solar radiation, and micrometeorites.

Lunar pits, first spotted by orbiters over a decade ago, are believed to be skylights connecting to underground lava tubes formed by volcanic processes. These formations are seen as potential sites for moonbases or emergency shelters due to their stable temperatures and shielding properties.

Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut to travel to space, told BBC News, “This newly-discovered cave looks like an excellent site for a lunar base. Humans could potentially be living in lunar pits within 20-30 years. However, the depth of the cave means that astronauts might need to use abseiling techniques, jet packs, or even a lift to navigate it.”

The discovery of this cave by Bruzzone and Leonardo Carrer from the University of Trento marks a significant milestone in lunar exploration. As countries race to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, this underground sanctuary could play a crucial role in protecting astronauts from the Moon’s extreme conditions.

With this revelation, the dream of a lunar base moves one step closer to reality, potentially heralding a new era of space exploration and habitation.