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Hey, I've been working on missions and rovers to investigate these for 10 years now. That particular pit at the top of the wikipedia article shown is really co

Hey, I've been working on missions and rovers to investigate these for 10 years now. That particular pit at the top of the wikipedia article shown is really convincing, when checked at different times and angles [1]. You can see at some point, the shadow of the crater stops moving with time, this can only be explained by an overhang, which implies a tube is there. As mentioned in the article, these are really attractive from a scientific view, and also could provide much protection from the harsh lunar environment (radiation, 100C + at lunar noon, and -150C during 2 weeks of lunar night). https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Mare-Tranquillitatis-pit-A-near-nadir-image-M126710873R-and-B-7-emission-angle_fig4_234129963 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Mare-Tranquillitatis-pit...

sandworm101 5y ago
>> could provide much protection from the harsh lunar environment Or introduce a host of new threats. Without the minimal "erosion" of micrometeoroids and dust, I would expect every edge on every rock in such tubes to be sharp. And the lack of tectonic activity/wind/water means that any 3d rock structure might well be on the edge of collapse. I wouldn't attempt to walk down one of these tunnels.
- tokai 5y ago
  >I would expect every edge on every rock in such tubes to be sharp Why? The rock has been melted away, if anything things should be quite smooth in the tubes.
  - andrewflnr 5y ago
    Having walked in a couple lava tubes, "smooth" is not really the word I would use, but I suppose neither is "sharp". (Among other things, imagine popcorn ceiling texture, on the floor, made of rock)
- me_me_me 5y ago
  I think you just described precisely why some people would love to explore those kind of formations.
- johnwalkr 5y ago
  I’d expect many sharp surfaces too, but it’s probably safer than the fine layer of regolith on the lunar surface. Those are small particles with very rough edges because there’s no erosion from weather. Like any lung irritant it’s quite hazardous to be exposed to. The idea is not to just go in there though, it’s to put a structure there (inflatable is often proposed). This could be more feasible than building something on the surface where the environment is harsher. By the way there’s lots of seismic activity on the moon.
ryanmercer 5y ago
>Hey, I've been working on missions and rovers to investigate these for 10 years now. I feel like that's worthy of a Reddit AMA.
lentil_soup 5y ago
>> I've been working on missions and rovers to investigate these for 10 years now what's does the future look like? will there be missions/rovers visiting these tubes any time soon? they sound super interesting!

sandworm101 5y ago

>> could provide much protection from the harsh lunar environment Or introduce a host of new threats. Without the minimal "erosion" of micrometeoroids and dust, I would expect every edge on every rock in such tubes to be sharp. And the lack of tectonic activity/wind/water means that any 3d rock structure might well be on the edge of collapse. I wouldn't attempt to walk down one of these tunnels.

tokai 5y ago
>I would expect every edge on every rock in such tubes to be sharp Why? The rock has been melted away, if anything things should be quite smooth in the tubes.
- andrewflnr 5y ago
  Having walked in a couple lava tubes, "smooth" is not really the word I would use, but I suppose neither is "sharp". (Among other things, imagine popcorn ceiling texture, on the floor, made of rock)
me_me_me 5y ago
I think you just described precisely why some people would love to explore those kind of formations.
johnwalkr 5y ago
I’d expect many sharp surfaces too, but it’s probably safer than the fine layer of regolith on the lunar surface. Those are small particles with very rough edges because there’s no erosion from weather. Like any lung irritant it’s quite hazardous to be exposed to. The idea is not to just go in there though, it’s to put a structure there (inflatable is often proposed). This could be more feasible than building something on the surface where the environment is harsher. By the way there’s lots of seismic activity on the moon.

ryanmercer 5y ago

>Hey, I've been working on missions and rovers to investigate these for 10 years now. I feel like that's worthy of a Reddit AMA.

lentil_soup 5y ago

>> I've been working on missions and rovers to investigate these for 10 years now what's does the future look like? will there be missions/rovers visiting these tubes any time soon? they sound super interesting!