WHY SHOULD WE EXPLORE LAVA TUBES?
Lava tubes on the Moon are interesting to research, because not only do they provide information about the Moon’s volcanic history, but they could also offer natural shelters for astronauts. Living on the Moon involves facing hazards that are aren’t present on Earth, thanks to its protective atmosphere. For example, meteorites that would burn up in Earth’s atmosphere will pummel the lunar surface, and harmful radiation that is blocked by our atmosphere and magnetic field will reach the Moon’s surface too. Having a thick, rocky, ready-made roof over a lunar base is therefore a good idea. On Earth, lava tubes are often just a metre or two across. In the lower gravity of the Moon, they can be hundreds of metres wide and over a kilometre long. One example, in the Marius Hills region of the Moon, has been estimated to be at least one kilometre in width and height – enough to hold a whole town or small city.