It is the first cave to be discovered on the Moon and could protect astronauts from radiation.

Scientists have for the first time discovered a cave on the Moon.

At least 100m deep, it could be an ideal place for humans to build a permanent base, they say.

It is just one in probably hundreds of caves hidden in an “underground, undiscovered world”, according to the researchers.

Countries are racing to establish a permanent human presence on the Moon, but they will need to protect astronauts from radiation, extreme temperatures, and space weather.

Helen Sharman, the first British astronaut to travel to space, told BBC News that the newly-discovered cave looked like a good place for a base, and suggested humans could potentially be living in lunar pits in 20-30 years.

  • Todd Bonzalez@lemm.eeEnglish
    4·
    4 months ago

    Remember, there’s not a lot of gravity on the moon, the energy to get in and out of that hole isn’t the same as on Earth. You could probably create a tether that could be ridden up and down.

    • AA5B@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      4 months ago

      See the link on my first edit. Even in the Moon’s low gravity, a fall over 12m is potentially fatal. It would be foolish to live such that astronauts take this extra risk every day.

      You also have to get all your stuff down there in one piece. Sure, more ropes, but tons of equipment, huge sections of living quarters and airlock, construction vehicles, etc. then every supply run needs to get tons of supplies all the way down there. You could do it, but it seems like giving yourself a lot of unnecessary work, taking up way too much time. And of course any sort of cave-in makes any survivors completely unreachable