The ambition to establish a permanent outpost on the moon will require a generous amount of resources, and NASA plans to harvest them from the satellite itself. The primary resource for the initial stages is water ice, which can be found on the floors of polar craters located on the dark side of the moon. The water ice found in these craters is accessible, and it can be collected without problems. However, there are other areas on the moon, which may contain a significant amount of scientific data and the resources which are needed to colonize our neighbor.
Researchers have identified massive tunnels on the surface of the moon, which may be connected to lunar lava tubes. These lava tubes aren’t influenced by the harsh conditions encountered on the lunar surface, among which we can count large amounts of cosmic radiation and severe temperature variations. Since one lunar day is equal to approximately 29 moon days, surface locations are showered by light for two weeks and plunged in darkness for another two weeks.
Moon Undergrounds, Lunar Lava Tubes, Might Serve As An Excellent Home For Future Lunar Colonists
These so-called skylights may have potential as they are spread across the moon. Inside the tubes, future colonists could find a vast network of corridors which are safe from the unstable weather, dangerous radiation and meteoroids which could crash on the surface. By harnessing them, the colonists could create a new world, linked with roads and filled with resources.
At this point, the researchers don’t know in if the skylights which have been identified until know lead to an interconnected center. It is also essential to take into account the fact that some of the pits which were spotted on the moon may not be lava tube skylights. Even if there are several lava tubes in a region, there is a high chance that most of them are not connected since they may have formed during different periods. Further research is needed before it will be known if the lava tubes could be converted into future habitats, but more data will be available in the future.
Bo has over six years experience as a teacher, advocate and speaker. He has a B.S. from Cornell University, and a Ph.D. in Human rights from Harvard University Graduate School.