NASA Targets Mysterious Lunar Hole for Potential Underground Shelter
A newly selected project will investigate a massive pit on the Moon, dubbed the Marius Hills Pit, to determine if it leads to a cavern that could protect future astronauts.
NASA has initiated a project to explore a mysterious hole on the lunar surface, known as the Marius Hills Pit, to investigate its potential as a vast underground shelter. The project, named the Geophysical Instruments for Marius Lunar Pit Investigation (GIMLI), aims to determine if the pit opens into a cavern that could shield future astronauts from the Moon's harsh radiation and extreme temperature fluctuations.
The Marius Hills Pit, located in a volcanically active region of the Moon, is approximately the depth of a 10-story building and has an opening comparable in size to an American football field. Discovered by Japan's SELENE spacecraft in 2009, it is one of roughly 300 such pits identified on the Moon, some of which may be entrances to caves formed by ancient volcanic activity.
The GIMLI project will employ a combination of ground-penetrating radar, seismic sensors, and a device to measure the local gravitational field to probe beneath the surface. This approach will provide researchers with direct examination opportunities from the lunar surface, moving beyond surface-level observations.
Radiation levels on the Moon's surface are significantly higher than those experienced on the International Space Station and Earth, posing serious health risks to astronauts, including increased chances of cancer and acute radiation sickness. A subterranean shelter would offer crucial protection.
Than Putzig, Associate Director and Senior Scientist at the Planetary Science Institute (PSI), which is leading the investigation, expressed enthusiasm for the project. "It's long been a desire of mine to reintroduce intentional active-source seismic methods to planetary science, as it has essentially not been done since the Apollo astronauts conducted the first seismic surveys on the moon," Putzig stated. "Combining that method with ground-penetrating radar and gravity measurements makes it all the more exciting, as these methods together will allow us to get a much better understanding of subsurface properties, including the anticipated detection of a lava tube extending away from the Marius Hills Pit."
Even if a substantial cave is not discovered, the pits themselves are scientifically valuable. Their exposed walls reveal layers of regolith and lava flows that are normally buried, offering insights into the Moon's geological history and volcanic processes. Gareth Morgan, PSI Senior Scientist and Deputy Principal Investigator on the GIMLI program, noted that confirming a lava tube would provide critical understanding of lunar volcanism, drawing parallels with Earth's volcanic features.
The investigation aligns with NASA's broader lunar exploration goals, including the upcoming Artemis IV mission, which plans to land astronauts on the Moon in 2028. This mission aims to conduct scientific research near the lunar South Pole before astronauts return to Earth.