Newly discovered cave on the moon could house future lunar astronauts

[Admin]

The lava tube is likely one of many on the lunar surface.

Newly discovered cave on the moon could house future lunar astronauts : Read more

 

[newtons_laws]

I hope this cave will be the site of a future Artemis mission to explore it, possibly using remotely operated vehicles.

One cautionary note though, it may be a good idea not to land too close to the cave, as the lander could be coming down onto a lava tube with a thin roof.....

 

[Rickycardo]

Or wake whatever is sleeping in the cave?

 

[Unclear Engineer]

I would have some serious questions about a lunar habitat situated in a natural "cave" or lava tube on the Moon.

How stable is the roof? Has that stability assessment considered the thermal and chemical off gas effects of the habitat on the surrounding rock material?

What is the backup safety plan and equipment if that assessment is flawed?

Remember, the Japanese assessment of the "maximum probably tsunami" at their Fukushima nuclear power plant was "flawed" so badly that they melted fuel in several reactors when the actual bad tsunami happened and exceeded their calculations.

When a habitat on the Moon fails, there is no place to run to, and nobody there to rescue you.