According to scientists, they will be able to protect against radiation and meteors
MOSCOW, January 13. /tass/. Lava tunnels that were formed earlier during volcanic activity on the Moon can be used as protection against radiation and meteors during the construction of bases. This opinion was expressed by specialists of the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in an article published in the journal "Manned Space Flights" (CPC publication).
"Lunar lava tunnels are unique geological formations that have the potential to be developed as a shelter for future long-term space bases," the article says.
Experts clarified that currently subsurface voids have been identified on the Moon and Mars, and there is also confirmation of their existence on Venus, Phobos, Eros, Gaspra, Ida, Enceladus and Europa. "Lava tubes are channels that are obtained by uneven cooling of lava flowing from the slopes of the volcano, the surface layers of lava due to contact with the external environment, which is much colder than the lava itself, cool down faster and become monolithic, forming a solid crust," they noted.
The length of such tunnels, the material says, can reach hundreds of meters or more, and the thickness of the covering layer is 10 meters. "The interior spaces of these lava tubes can become a natural shelter from penetrating radiation, extreme temperatures and meteor impacts, as well as significantly simplify the climate maintenance system," it says.
Another advantage is the absence of dust in such spaces. Also, the tunnels may contain deposits in the form of water and carbon dioxide ice, which will provide people with water and useful mineral raw materials that can be used to produce methane. As disadvantages, experts cited a small amount of natural light.
Study
Photovideography, ground, aerial and mobile laser scanning, georadar scanning, infrared and ultraviolet photography, microwave radiometry and other means can be used to study lava tunnels.
"The peculiarity of the use of the above methods of lunar surface survey is the possibility of their implementation both manually (with the participation of cosmonauts-researchers) and automatically, through the use of special planetary equipment, including mobile, including anthropomorphic collaborative robots," the experts added, suggesting using Kamchatka territory for technology development.