Existence of Lunar Lava Tube Confirmed by International Scientists

Existence of Lunar Lava Tube Confirmed by International Scientists
by Erica Marchand
Paris, France (SPX) Jul 16, 2024

A team of international scientists, led by the University of Trento, Italy, has made a major discovery about the Moon. For the first time, they have confirmed the existence of a tunnel in the lunar subsurface, likely an empty lava tube. This significant research, published in Nature Astronomy, is the result of an international collaboration.

"These caves have been theorized for over 50 years, but it is the first time ever that we have demonstrated their existence," explained Lorenzo Bruzzone, professor at the University of Trento.

Bruzzone detailed the process: "In 2010, as part of the ongoing LRO NASA mission, the Miniature Radio-Frequency (Mini-RF) instrument acquired data that included a pit in Mare Tranquilitatis. Years later we have reanalyzed these data with complex signal processing techniques we have recently developed, and have discovered radar reflections from the area of the pit that are best explained by an underground cave conduit. This discovery provides the first direct evidence of an accessible lava tube under the surface of the Moon."

"Thanks to the analysis of the data we were able to create a model of a portion of the conduit," continued Leonardo Carrer, a researcher at the University of Trento. "The most likely explanation for our observations is an empty lava tube."

Wes Patterson, the Mini-RF principal investigator from the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, added, "This research demonstrates both how radar data of the Moon can be used in novel ways to address fundamental questions for science and exploration and how crucial it is to continue collecting remotely sensed data of the Moon. This includes the current LRO mission and, hopefully, future orbiter missions."

The study, partially funded by the Italian Space Agency, also involved researchers from the University of Padua and La Venta Geographic Explorations APS, who contributed to the geological analyses and modeling of the identified conduit.

This study has significant implications for the development of future lunar missions. The lunar environment is extremely hostile to human life, with surface temperatures reaching 127 C on the illuminated side and dropping to -173 C on the unilluminated side. Cosmic and solar radiation can be up to 150 times more powerful on the lunar surface than on Earth, and there is a constant threat of meteorite impact. These conditions underscore the need for safe sites to build infrastructure for sustained exploration, and caves like this one may provide a solution.

Research Report:Radar Evidence of an Accessible Cave Conduit below the Mare Tranquillitatis Pit