NASA Will Search for Caves on the Moon
Saturday, October 10, 2026177 words3 minutes2839 reads
NASA has selected three new investigations to prepare for a sustained human presence at the Moon. One project, called GIMLI, will study the Marius Hills Pit. Its goal is to scan beneath the lunar surface and learn whether the pit connects to a large underground lava tube.
Lava tubes can form when the outside of flowing lava cools while lava continues moving inside. When the lava leaves, it can leave an empty tunnel. On the Moon, an underground space could protect future astronauts from extreme temperatures, harmful radiation, and micrometeoroids, which are very small space rocks.
But a lava tube is only a possibility until it is confirmed. NASA says GIMLI will hunt for subterranean lava tubes; it is not a plan to move astronauts into a cave soon. The information could change later habitat planning if a large, stable void is found.
The other new investigations will monitor hazards and study lunar ice and surface conditions. Together, they are meant to help NASA understand resources, risks, and safe operations before a long-term Moon Base is built.
