05 March 2011

Can we Live Underground on the Moon?

The Indian Space Research Organization recently announced the finding of a huge underground cavern on the moon. Its approximated to be 1.7 KM long and around 120 meters wide.  It is thought that an entire lunar city or base could find inside the cavern

Indian researchers issues a report in which they claim the cavern would be ideal for a future human lunar settlement. Being deep underground, the void would be protected from radiation, space debris impacts, dust, and extreme temperature change. According to the report:
Lava provides a natural environmental control with a nearly constant temperature of minus 20 degrees Celsius (-4 degrees Fahrenheit), unlike that of the lunar surface showing extreme variation, maximum of 130 degrees Celsius (266 degrees Fahrenheit) to a minimum of minus 180 degrees Celsius (-292 degrees Fahrenheit) in its diurnal (day-night) cycle.
In theory, building a base in the cavern would hugely decrease the difficultly of establishing a base on the moon. The nature shield of the lava rock would save immense amount of structural materials and insulation.  With any luck, humans will soon be living inside the moon like a colony of ants inside of juicy peach!

 Thank you to Gizmodo for the report!

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