The discovery of the lunar cave opens up possibilities for future housing for astronauts

A team of Italian scientists has confirmed the existence of a large cave on the Moon, not far from the historic landing site of Apollo 11. Located in the Sea of ​​Tranquility, only 250 miles from where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first set foot on the lunar surface, the cave is believed to be one of hundreds that could serve as housing for future astronauts.

The cave, like more than 200 others discovered on the Moon, was formed by the collapse of a lava tube. The researchers analyzed radar images of the Mare Tranquillitatis Pit (MTP), an elliptical skylight with vertical walls or overhangs and a sloping pit floor that appears to extend further underground. These images were captured by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2010 and compared to similar lava tubes on Earth.

Scientists believe the MTP leads to an accessible cave conduit beneath the moon's surface. The radar data reveals only the initial part of the underground cavity, which is estimated to be at least 130 feet wide and tens of meters long, possibly more. The MTP, the deepest known well on the Moon at about 330 feet deep, provides access to this cave.

The discovery of these lunar caves, which have been a mystery for more than 50 years, is exciting for the scientific community. Most of these pits appear to be located on the moon's ancient lava plains, with some potentially located at the moon's south pole, the intended location of NASA astronaut landings later this decade. These permanently shadowed craters are thought to contain frozen water, which could provide drinking water and rocket fuel.

The findings suggest there could be hundreds of craters on the Moon and thousands of lava tubes. These could serve as natural shelters for astronauts, protecting them from cosmic rays, solar radiation and micrometeorite impacts. Building habitats from scratch would be more difficult and time-consuming, even with the potential need to reinforce the cave walls to prevent collapse.

The United States plans to return a crew to the lunar surface by the end of 2025, with the help of private sector companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin. They aim to land at the Moon's south pole, where permanently shadowed craters are believed to be filled with frozen water.