Ancient lava caves and tunnels on moon can shelter human cities, say Purdue scientists

Giant lava tubes under the surface of the moon may be available for human settlements in from of cities, say scientists. Though now largely inactive, the lunar surface was once the hotbed of volcanic activity. The several kilometer wide tubes through which once lava flowed could be large enough to house entire cities and shelter human beings.

This was proposed by Professor Jay Melosh, a distinguished professor from the Purdue University, during the 46th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) held on March 17 in Texas.

“There has been some discussion of whether lava tubes might exist on the moon. Some evidence, like the sinuous rilles observed on the surface, suggest that if lunar lava tubes exist they might be really big,” he said.

‘Sinuous rilles’ refer to giant channels on the surface of the moon believed to have been created due to ancient lava flows. Some of these rilles are almost 6 miles wide, causing the Purdue team to believe that those beneath the surface could match those above it.

David Blair, a graduate student in Purdue’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences added, “We found that if lunar lava tubes existed with a strong arched shape like those on Earth, they would be stable at sizes up to 5,000 meters, or several miles wide, on the moon. This wouldn’t be possible on Earth, but gravity is much lower on the moon and lunar rock doesn’t have to withstand the same weathering and erosion. In theory, huge lava tubes – big enough to easily house a city – could be structurally sound on the moon.”

If these caves already existing on the moon can be used to provide structure and/ or protection from radiation and the extreme temperatures on the lunar surface, as is being proposed by the Purdue team, the cost and time frame of proposed missions to the moon could be brought down significantly.