Lunar lava tube
Lunar lava tubes are sub-surface tunnels on the Moon that are believed to have formed during basaltic lava flows. When the surface of a lava tube cools, it forms a hardened lid that contains the ongoing lava flow beneath the surface in a conduit-shaped passage. Once the flow of lava diminishes, the tunnel may become drained, forming a hollow void. Lunar lava tubes are formed on surfaces that have a slope that ranges in angle from 0.4–6.5°.[1] Lunar lava tubes may be as wide as 500 metres (1,600 ft) before they become unstable against gravitational collapse. However, stable tubes may still be disrupted by seismic events or meteoroid bombardment.[2]
The existence of a lava tube is sometimes revealed by the presence of a "skylight", a place in which the roof of the tube has collapsed, leaving a circular hole.[3][4]
Contents
Observational Evidence for Lunar Lava Tubes
One such area containing lava tubes and rilles is the Marius Hills region.[1] In 2008, an opening to such a lava tube in this area may have been discovered by the Japanese Kaguya spacecraft.[5] The skylight was photographed in more detail in 2011 by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, showing both the 65-meter pit and the floor of the cave about 36 meters below.[4][6] The Hadley Rille may have been a partly roofed lava channel, some parts of which have since collapsed.[7] There may also be lava tubes in the Mare Serenitatis.[8][9][10][11]
The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has now imaged over 200 pits that show the signature of being skylights into subsurface voids or caverns, ranging in diameter from about 16 feet (5 meters) to more than 2,950 feet (900 m),[12] although some of these are likely to be post-flow features rather than volcanic skylights.[13]
The Chandrayaan-1 orbiter imaged a lunar rille, formed by an ancient lunar lava flow, with an uncollapsed segment indicating the likely presence of a lava tube near the lunar equator, measuring about 2 km (1.2 mi) in length and 360 m (1,180 ft) in width.[14][15]
Proposed Exploration
Several groups have proposed robotic missions to explore lunar and Martian lava tubes.[3][16]
Lava Tubes as sites for Human Habitats
Lunar lava tubes may potentially serve a role as enclosures for human habitats.[5][8][17] Tunnels larger than 300 metres (980 ft) in diameter may exist, lying under 40 metres (130 ft) or more of basalt with a stable temperature of −20 °C (−4 °F).[18] These natural tunnels provide protection from cosmic ray radiation, meteorites, micrometeorites, and ejecta from impacts. They are shielded from the variations in temperature at the lunar surface, which would provide a stable environment for inhabitants.[19] Lunar lava tubes are typically found along the boundaries between lunar mares and highland regions. This would give ready access to elevated regions for communications, basaltic plains for landing sites and regolith harvesting, as well as underground mineral resources.[20]
See also
References
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- ↑ Wagner, Robert V. and Robinson, Mark S., "Distribution, formation mechanisms, and significance of lunar pits," Icarus,' Vol. 237, 15 July 2014, pp 52–60 (abstract accessed 24 Jan 2015).
- ↑ A. S. Arya, R. P. Rajasekhar, Guneshwar Thangjam, Ajai and A. S. Kiran Kumar, "Detection of potential site for future human habitability on the Moon using Chandrayaan-1 data", Current Science, Vol. 100, NO. 4, 25 February 2011 (accessed 24 January 2015)
- ↑ "After water, now Indian scientists find cave on Moon", Silicon India News, 8 February 2010 (accessed 24 January 2016).
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