News Cave in moon: Base station for astronauts?

[Wally]

New Delhi: Scientists at the Indian Space Research Organization have discovered a giant underground chamber on the moon, which they feel could be used as a base by astronauts on future manned missions to moon.

An analysis by an instrument on Chandrayaan-1 revealed a 1.7-km long and 120-metre wide cave near the moon's equator that is in the Oceanus Procellarum area of the moon that could be a suitable 'base station' for future human missions.

Scientists of the Space Applications Centre in Ahmedabad said in a research paper published in the latest issue of Current Science that the cave provides "a safe environment from hazardous radiations, micro-meteoritic impacts, extreme temperatures and dust storms."

Scientists said identifying sites for permanent base for human settlements on the moon is important for further exploration.

"Lava tubes provide a natural environmental control with a nearly constant temperature of minus 20 degrees Celsius, unlike that of the lunar surface showing extreme variation, maximum of 130 degrees Celsius to a minimum of minus 180 degrees Celsius in its diurnal (day-night) cycle," they said.

According to them, the lava tubes offer a dust-free environment and adapting them for human use requires minimal construction.

Source: SiliconIndia
Full article: http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/25feb2011/524.pdf

 

[Wishbone]

"Have you thoroughly explored it?" said the wizard, who knew that caves up in the mountains were seldom unoccupied.

 

[Ghostrider]

In space, no one can hear you scream "You cannot pass!"

 

[flyer]

Just one question, are there dust storms on the moon?

Genuine question, not being sarcastic! (I haven't had a chance to read the whole article)

 

[IgnoreThisBarrel]

As soon as a basic 3D model is made (or even some approximate coordinates and a general shape) I hope an addon is made for this! Bonus points if it's made Meshland compatible.

 

[n72.75]

As soon as a basic 3D model is made (or even some approximate coordinates and a general shape) I hope an addon is made for this! Bonus points if it's made Meshland compatible.

I'll head over there and start taking measurements.

 

[IgnoreThisBarrel]

I'll head over there and start taking measurements.

Hmm... I guess I forgot it's kind of hard to measure the structure of things through quite a bit of rock...

 

[garyw]

Just one question, are there dust storms on the moon?

Genuine question, not being sarcastic! (I haven't had a chance to read the whole article)

Possibly. One of the NASA orbiters caught something like a minor duststorm occuring when the sun rises to a certain point and excites the lose dust.

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2005/07dec_moonstorms/

 

[flyer]

Possibly. One of the NASA orbiters caught something like a minor duststorm occuring when the sun rises to a certain point and excites the lose dust.

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2005/07dec_moonstorms/

Very interesting...you learn something new everyday!

 

[Rtyh-12]

But the base you build in a hole just won't be like Brighton D:

 

[T.Neo]

Still... a lunar static-dust-phenonmenon thing differs from a Martian dust storm, for example... maybe it could, over a long period of time, cover equipment in a fine layer of dust, but even in a cave you cannot escape needing surface equipment...