Moon's "Skylights" Could Be the Key to Future Lunar Bases: US and China Race to Establish a Presence
A Giant Step for Mankind?
The discovery of a massive lava tube near the Apollo 11 landing site has sparked renewed interest in the potential of lunar "skylights" for constructing future lunar bases. These natural formations offer a unique opportunity for establishing a long-term human presence on the moon, just as caves protected our ancestors on Earth.
Protection from the Harsh Lunar Environment
Astronauts on the moon face numerous dangers, including cosmic and solar radiation, meteoroids, extreme temperature variations, and even collisions. Lunar "skylights" - collapsed lava tubes creating natural shelters opening onto the lunar surface - offer a solution. These tubes, some reaching hundreds of meters in diameter, provide ample space for living, working, and sheltering astronauts.
Italy's Discovery and a "Skylight" on the Moon
A team of Italian astronomers from the University of Trento recently published a detailed analysis of one such "skylight" on the moon. They estimated that the cavern inside this tube could extend for 100 meters, stretching deep below the surface. This "skylight" is located in Mare Tranquillitatis, just 400km from the Apollo 11 landing site.
Lava Tubes: Nature's Lunar Shelters
While the discovery of lunar caves is not new, the first confirmed cave was identified in 2009 thanks to images sent back by Japan's Kaguya probe. Since then, numerous others have been discovered, bringing the total number of known "skylights" to over 200.
Potential for Lunar Bases
The Italian astronomers' research, based on radar data collected by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) five years ago, suggests that the cave could extend another 50-80 meters. This cave, potentially as large as an Olympic-sized swimming pool, could serve as an ideal shelter for future astronauts. At such depths, they would be safe from meteoroid impacts, and exposure to cosmic radiation would be significantly reduced. Like terrestrial caves, the minerals present could help regulate temperature fluctuations between day and night.
The Race to Establish Lunar Bases
Both the US and China are exploring the potential of lava tubes for lunar base construction. NASA has considered using lunar regolith (dust and rock) to coat the walls of these tubes, while China has hinted at similar plans.
China's plans include utilizing magma tubes to create underground modules for habitation, inflatable structures covered in insulation by robots. The country also aims to establish a lunar orbiting station to manage robotic exploration and rescue operations. China has announced plans to begin constructing a lunar base in 2028, though the specifics of using lava tubes remain unclear.
A New Era of Lunar Exploration
The potential of lunar "skylights" as safe and sustainable environments for future lunar bases signifies a new era of lunar exploration. As space agencies race to establish a permanent human presence on the moon, these natural formations offer a unique and compelling opportunity to achieve this goal.
Summary
The discovery of a massive lava tube near the Apollo 11 landing site has sparked renewed interest in the potential of lunar "skylights" as ideal locations for constructing future lunar bases. These natural formations offer protection from the harsh lunar environment, including radiation, meteoroids, and extreme temperature variations. Research suggests that these caves could provide ample space for living, working, and sheltering astronauts, making them ideal candidates for establishing a permanent human presence on the moon. Both the US and China are actively pursuing plans to utilize these lunar "skylights" for establishing their own lunar bases, marking a new era of lunar exploration and the potential for a thriving human presence beyond Earth.