'Moon Caves' or Lava Tubes Can Protect Astronauts on the Moon

The European Space Agency (ESA) has expressed their interest to build a moon village on the moon.

Of course, other agencies have heightened interest on the moon, too. Because of that intensive research were focused on the moon and the latest finding is that the moon caves of lava tubes which looks like huge pits or hole on the moon could protect the astronauts.

According to Discovery, the large pit of the Marius Hills on moon could be a lava tube also known as a skylight. These holes could provide shelter for astronauts from outside elements in space. The approximately 213 feet across with 262 to 289 feet depth lava tube is one of the few considered to be a possible skylight on the surface of the moon.

Based from the latest result of NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) spacecraft, tasked to map the gravitational field on the moon, they found out that there are quite a number of possible lava tubes on the surface of the moon. The holes on the ground could provide shelter for crew members of even serve as a space to hold important supplies.

NASA said "GRAIL's engineering objectives are to enable the science objectives of mapping lunar gravity and using that information to increase understanding of the Moon's interior and thermal history" in their official website. There are two GRAIL spacecraft launch to monitor the lunar activities of the moon. But aside from doing its tasks, they have also discovered the potential moon caves.

It could be a protective lunar base says Space.com. In the same reported, it was stated that because of the recent findings that the moon might have water and water ice, astronauts could stay longer on the moon and establishing ESA's dream 'moon village' might just be possible.

Scientist believe that these moon caves can be used as shelter or storage because it is beneath the surface and provides a safe escape from debris or other space elements passing through the moon in various, sometimes risky, speed.

Some scientist believes that the lava tubes could be interconnected underneath that's why they wanted to do a more in-depth study on them.

"We are really pushing GRAIL data to see anything at all... We only see them on the passes of the GRAIL spacecraft when they went quite low over the surface. But we are able to see the big ones" said Jay Melosh, planetary scientist.

If proven to be true, this new discovery might actually lead to longer missions on the moon and probably, a potential habitable village, too.