Recently, leading global media reported that a team of researchers from the University of Trento (Italy) discovered a “secret” cave. The cylindrical, 100-meter-deep cavity, as wide as a football field, is located in the area known as the Sea of Tranquility.
The discovery of this cave marks a step forward for the colonization of the Moon. It could be useful for NASA’s upcoming Artemis mission, whose participants plan to establish the first human settlement on the Moon.
According to scientists, such a cave could become a lunar base. By protecting colonists from the Moon’s harsh environment, the cave would provide optimal conditions for long-term research.
Plans that are just a few years away from realization
NASA plans to establish a base camp in the southern region of the Moon by the end of this decade as part of the Artemis program. Astronauts will reach it aboard a SpaceX spacecraft. A key priority of the program is to protect people from cosmic radiation and extreme temperatures.
Journalists at the Daily Mail surveyed experts on what the first human base on the Moon might be like and what amenities are planned for its residents.
Dr. Daniel Brown, a lecturer in the Department of Astronomy at Nottingham Trent University (UK), emphasized that the atmosphere on the Moon is not suitable for human life. Therefore, it is essential to create a livable environment there with breathable air, comfortable temperatures, and protection from radiation.
Matthew Cosby, the director of space engineering at the British Goonhilly station, believes that the lunar base will be built in stages, similar to the International Space Station (ISS). According to Mr. Cosby, the first phase should focus on power supply, communication, and the reliable operation of equipment. All of this will help ensure a continuous presence of people and robots on the Moon.
The most essential facilities of the lunar camp will be living quarters, transportation, and systems for generating electricity, such as a large array of solar panels. The base will be equipped with laboratories, sleeping areas, restrooms, and exercise equipment to help astronauts maintain bone and muscle mass.
On the lunar surface, residents will move around on special trains that run on flexible, foldable tracks instead of conventional rails. Spaceports, attractions, and even football fields will be built on the Moon (the fields would be engraved into the lunar soil using lasers).
What will the base be built from?
One option for building material is lunar regolith. It provides good protection against radiation, temperature extremes, and micrometeorites. According to Mr. Cosby, the regolith could be used for 3D printing structures directly on the Moon.
Meanwhile, Dr. Brown pointed out that NASA will avoid transporting large amounts of building materials from Earth, such as bricks and steel modules, because it’s very expensive. He said placing living quarters beneath the surface of the Moon, for example in caves, could be a practical solution that provides additional shelter from the harsh environment.
Building block made of regolith
With sufficient protection, people inside will be able to remove the Prada-designed spacesuits and wear regular clothes, just like crews on the ISS. Dr. Brown believes that the base will be built by both humans and robots.
What will astronauts eat and drink?
Since residents of the new base are expected to spend significantly more time in space than researchers on the ISS, they’ll need to grow food on the Moon. Cultivated products could include artificial steaks and edible plants (the latter can grow in lunar regolith).
“The most important condition for the successful existence of a human community on the Moon is water,” said Michelle Hanlon, a professor of space law at the University of Mississippi (USA). Astronauts will need water for drinking and for growing plants essential for survival.
Artemis leaders are particularly interested in exploring the Moon’s southern hemisphere because of its rich ice reserves. This ice can serve as a source of drinking water for researchers, help cool equipment, and be used to extract hydrogen for fuel and oxygen for breathing.
Meanwhile, Malcolm Macdonald, a space technology engineer at the University of Strathclyde (Scotland), does not expect the Artemis mission plans to be realized by 2028. Although NASA has stated that this could happen as early as September 2026, he believes a Moon base shouldn’t be expected before the 2030s.
