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I suppose the Artemis III landing location is probably set in stone at the south pole, and even if it weren't, there probably wouldn't be enough time to explore
by floxy 2y ago
I suppose the Artemis III landing location is probably set in stone at the south pole, and even if it weren't, there probably wouldn't be enough time to explore a cave. Maybe we can get some hopping pit-bots there sooner rather than later:
https://arxiv.org/abs/1701.07799 https://arxiv.org/abs/1701.07799
- UberFly 2y agoTotally. I can't wait for the photos at some point. The caves must have just moved to somebodies shortlist.
- imglorp 2y agoThis would also change the mars vs moon colony equation. A ready made radiation shelter of substantial volume means none of that shielding or digging equipment would need to be brought from Earth. Move-in ready.
- evaneykelen 2y agoThere likely are lava tubes on Mars too: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian_lava_tube https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian_lava_tube
- wongarsu 2y agoSimilarly the Chinese program is so far only planning for landings and a moon base at the south pole. But I wouldn't be surprised if China squeezes in an extra manned or rover mission to investigate this. It'd be a pretty cheap win for their Moon program over Artemis.
- kjkjadksj 2y agoI imagine there is a massive benefit to trying to secure and claim this cave before others have a chance to. Turn key Cheyenne mountain complex on the moon with little complex lunar excavation required? Yes please, says every nations strategic space command at once. I wouldn't be surprised if there were more such sites, undisclosed for fear of competition settling on the site, but already identified for future basebuilding purposes.
- Bluestein 2y agoI for one honestly think that now the race's begun in earnest ... (Not for lack I am sure, and, as mentioned, of comparable as-of-now secret comparable sites already known about ... ... but because public knowledge of at least this one makes for vox populi pressure uoon spacefaring actors.-
- dr_dshiv 2y agoHere’s my not-tongue-in-cheek Moonball deck. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16QpeWjf1Hbxp_15D5VtxJdLMzLo8LFhBPJRagyWFdjY/edit https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/16QpeWjf1Hbxp_15D5Vtx... And speaking of races on the moon: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/moon-walls-running-1.7192281 https://www.cbc.ca/radio/quirks/moon-walls-running-1.7192281
- Bluestein 2y agoPlease do post, particularly the Moonball link, more widely :)
- chuckledog 2y agoInteresting deck that shows moon caves are not a new concept at all. I’m surprised this hasn’t shown up in more sci-fi movies by now… slides 11 and 16 are quite compelling! Now how do we know there isn’t anyone there already… ;)
- shiroiushi 2y agoYep, I'm looking forward to seeing how China (and maybe their Russian partners) develops the Moon and the resources there, and seeing how this affects economies and the power balance here on Earth. Because the western countries certainly aren't going to succeed in getting there first.
- vkou 2y agoWhat resources? There is nothing that we want on it that is economical to extract and use.