A Scheme Design for Lunar Lava Tube Exploration and Development

Abstract

This paper, founded on the synthesis of recent exploration achievements and prior research, supplemented by on-site investigations of diverse terrestrial lava tubes, delves into the value and challenges associated with lunar lava tube exploration and development. Employing lunar remote sensing data and focusing on lunar lava tubes in areas such as Mare Fecunditatis and Mare Tranquillitatis, the paper formulates a collaborative exploration blueprint comprising lunar landing platforms, rovers, and autonomous robots. Furthermore, in line with the objective of utilizing natural cavities within lava tubes for potential lunar base construction, the paper scrutinizes the prerequisites and complications linked to lava tube modification and construction. It presents conceptual solutions, encompassing cave interior floor construction, communication and power infrastructure deployment, as well as residential facility establishment, providing a fundamental reference for the construction of future lunar bases.

Keywords

lunar lava tube / lunar under surface exploration / manned lunar exploration / lunar base / lunar construction

References

[1] RHATIGAN J L. Constellation program lessons learned：Volume I-Executive summary：NASA/SP-2011- 6127/VOL1 [R]. Washington，DC，USA：National Aeronautics and Space Administration，2011.
[2] BRIDENSTINE J. Artemis plan：NASA’s lunar exploration program overview：NP-2020-05-2853-HQ [R]. Washington，DC，USA：National Aeronautics and Space Administration，2020.
[3] 范唯唯. JAXA提出2030年载人登月计划实施方案[J]. 空间科学学报，2017，37（6）：643-643.
FAN W W. JAXA puts forward the implementation plan of manned moon landing plan in 2030[J]. Chinese Journal of Space Science，2017，37（6）：643-643.
[4] 王霄，吴润生. 俄罗斯载人登月发展现状及趋势[J]. 国际太空，2018（11）：44-49.
[5] CESARETTI G，DINI E，DEKESTELIER X，et al. Building components for an outpost on the lunar soil by means of a novel 3D. printing technology[J]. Acta Astronaut，2014，93：430-450.
[6] COAN D. Exploration EVA system concept of operations summary for Artemis Phase lunar surface mission [C]//Proceedings of EVA Exploration Workshop 2020. Houston，USA：[s. n.]，2020.
[7] REITZ G，BERGER T，MATTHIAE D. Radiation exposure in the moon environment[J]. Planetary and Space Science，2012，74（1）：78-83.
[8] NASA. The Apollo missions[EB/OL]. （2021）[2023-10-25].https：//www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/ missions/index.html.
[9] CREMONESE G，BORIN P，LUCCHETTI A，et al. Micrometeoroids flux on the Moon[J]. Astronomy & Astrophysics，2013，551：A27.
[10] HORVATH T，HAYNE P O，PAIGE D A. Thermal and illumination environments of lunar pits and caves：models and observations from the diviner lunar radiometer experiment[J]. Geophysical Research Letters，2022，49（14）：e2022GL099710.
[11] HARUYAMA J，SAWAI S，MIZUNO T，et al. Exploration of lunar holes，possible skylights of underlying lava tubes，by smart lander for investigating Moon（slim）[J]. Transactions of the Japan Society for Aeronautical And Space Sciences，2012，10：7-8.
[12] ANGELIS G D，WILSON J W，CLOWDSLEY M S，et al. Lunar lava tube radiation safety analysis[J]. Journal of Radiation Research，2002，43：41-45.
[13] HARUYAMA J，MOROTA T，KOBAYASHI S，et al. Lunar holes and lava tubes as resources for lunar science and exploration[M]. Berlin，Heidelberg：Springer，2012：139-163.
[14] GREELEY R. Lava tubes and channels in the lunar Marius Hills[J]. Moon，1971，3（3）：289-314.
[15] GREELEY R. Lunar Hadley rille：considerations of its origin[J]. Science，1971，172（3984）：722-725.
[16] MURASE T，MCBIRNEY A R. Viscosity of lunar lavas[J]. Science，1970，167（3924）：1491-1493.
[17] COOMBS C R，HAWKE B R. A search for intact lava tubes on the Moon：Possible lunar base habitats [C]//Proceedings of the Second Conference on Lunar Bases and Space Activities of the 21st Century，Volume 1. Houston，USA：NASA Johnson Space Center，1992：219-229.
[18] HARUYAMA J，HIOKI K，SHIRAO M，et al. Possible lunar lava tube skylight observed by SELENE cameras[J]. Geophysical Research Letters，2009，36（21）：L21206.
[19] STEIGERWALD B. NASA’s LRO finds lunar pits harbor comfortable temperatures[EB/OL]. （2022）[2023-10-25].https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2022/lro-lunar-pits-comfortable.
[20] MEYER J A. New methods for the discovery and characterization of lunar lava tubes using lunar reconnaissance orbiter data[D]. El Paso：University of Texas at El Paso，2012.
[21] ARYA A，RAJASEKHAR R，THANGJAM G，et al. Detection of potential site for future human habitability on the Moon using Chandrayaan-1 data[J]. Current Science，2011，100（4）：524-529.
[22] BLAIR D M，CHAPPAZ L，SOOD R，et al. The structural stability of lunar lava tubes[J]. Icarus，2017，282：47-55.
[23] WAGNER R V，ROBINSON M S. Occurrence and origin of lunar pits：Observations from a new catalog [C]//Proceedings of 52nd Lunar and Planetary Science Conference. [S. l.]：Virtual Event，2021.
[24] CRUIKSHANK D P，WOOD C A. Lunar rilles and Hawaiian volcanic features：possible analogues[J]. Moon，1972，3：412-447.
[25] 肖龙，黄俊，赵佳伟，等. 月面熔岩管洞穴探测的意义与初步设想[J]. 中国科学：物理学 力学 天文学，2018，48（11）：87-100.
XIAO L，HUANG J，ZHAO J W，et a. Significance and preliminary proposal for exploring the lunar lava tubes[J]. SCIENTIA SINICA Physica，Mechanica & Astronomica，2018，48（11）：87-100.
[26] 丁烈云，徐捷，骆汉宾，等. 月面建造工程的挑战与研究进展[J]. 载人航天，2019，25（3）：277-285.
DING L Y，XU J，LUO H B，et al. Lunar construction：challenges and research progresses[J]. Manned Spaceflight，2019，25（3）：277-285.
[27] WAGNER R V，ROBINSON M S. Distribution，formation mechanisms，and significance of lunar pits[J]. Icarus，2014，237：52-60.
[28] XIMENES S W，ELLIOTT J O，BANNOVA O. Defining a mission architecture and technologies for lunar lava tube reconnaissance[C]//Proceedings of Thirteenth ASCE Aerospace Division Conference on Engineering，Science，Construction，and Operations in Challenging Environments，and the 5th NASA/ASCE Workshop On Granular Materials in Space Exploration. [S. l.]：NASA，2012.
[29] 朱筱敏. 沉积岩石学[M]. 北京：石油工业出版社，2015.
[30] 宋靖华，张杨姝禾，袁焕鑫. 利用熔岩管道建设月球基地的规划设想[J]. 城市建筑，2019，16（7）：44-51.
SONG J H，ZHANG Y S H，YUAN H X. A tentative plan of lunar base under lava tubes[J]. Urbanism and Architecture，2019，16（7）：44-51.
[31] 张崇峰，许惟扬，王燕. 载人月球探测月面活动发展设想[J]. 上海航天（中英文），2021，38（3）：109-118.
ZHANG C F，XU W Y，WANG Y. Development ideas of manned lunar surface exploration[J]. Aerospace Shanghai, 2021，38（3）：109-118.