Caves May Give Opening to Establishment of Moon Base

Lunar lava tubes may assist in fulfilling order to NASA to establish “initial element of a permanent lunar outpost by 2030” as these caves shelter from radiation, meteorites, temperatures, CMEs; data from LRO evidences cave with stable temp of 17°C extending >60m from base of pit in Mare Tranquillitatis, although cave could extend many km; inflatable module inside would obviate sealing / pressurizing; proposed cave exploration by China, ESA, ispace includes tethered probe or robots: swarms, legged, flying; China taikonaut Ye Guangfu leads cave team for 5 nights at 8°C with psychology / emergency aspects after ESA cave training

Image Credits: CNSA, NASA