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NASA is considering the possibility of placing settlements astronauts on the moon in the lunar caves
One of the holes in the smooth surface of the Sea of Tranquility. "Bottom", as we see, too smooth, nestled boulders. I>
On the surface of the Moon there are millions more small craters caused billions of years bombardment of the surface of the satellite Earth by meteorites. But there on the moon, and more interesting education - a hole, dips, which now counted about 200.
According to experts, some of the holes may serve as the entrance to the extensive network of lunar caves (which, in turn, formed under the influence of lava flows and geological activity of the moon millions of years ago).
The dimensions of "holes" are different. Now found hole diameter of 5 m to about 900 m. The first three failures were found in the images transmitted to Earth a Japanese machine Kaguya. All others were found as a result of the new search algorithm images. The algorithm is used for image processing apparatus LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter).
Rather, "roof" of the voids in the crust of the moon collapses under the influence of the same meteorites that fall under percussion create seismic waves. The surface does not stand and falls. Research voids may disclose the origin story of the lunar maria, where the vast majority of detected failures.
Currently LRO camera covered no more than 40% of the surface of the moon, so that new discoveries - is yet to come, it is likely that the moon more voids than observed to date (according to scientists of these formations can be 2-3 times higher found than now). Some of them probably can not be found now, as some regions are always in the shadows, and the algorithm simply can not work with such dark areas.
According to scientists, subsurface caverns on the moon could be the perfect location for settlement of astronauts, research stations and other infrastructure facilities. Enough to seal the entrance, and all the rest of the space can be mastered. If the assumption of the existence of a whole network of lunar subsurface caves confirmed, the settlement can be extended without any problems - no need to 'bite' into the lunar crust, nature will do everything for the person.
Nether - the perfect place to settle. No radiation of the sun, neither of micrometeorites probably reduced the amount of dust and no excessive diurnal (meaning moonlit night) temperature variations.
Via nasa
Source: habrahabr.ru/post/230667/
