Living in Lunar Caves: Exploring Marius Hills Lava Tubes

A NASA-backed payload targets the Marius Hills Pit to investigate underground lunar voids as potential human habitats.

As lunar base development progresses, researchers are looking beneath the lunar surface for sustainable habitation sites. A NASA-backed mission aims to explore the Marius Hills Pit—a roughly 50-meter-wide opening—to determine if it leads into habitable lunar lava tubes.

Specialized geophysical instruments on robotic rovers will scan for hidden underground voids and measure their structural integrity. This research aligns closely with NASA’s Artemis plans, paving the way for humanity's first subterranean lunar living spaces.