Chinese scientists presented a project to build a lunar base in lava caves, which will allow astronauts to stay there for a very long time.
Scientists from the Harbin Institute of Technology, China, presented a project for the first Chinese base on the moon. It should be built by 2035 and will be located in lava caves.
These caves will provide astronauts with natural protection from solar and cosmic radiation, as well as save from extreme temperature changes on the Moon, writes Express.
These underground tunnels were created during ancient volcanic eruptions on the Moon. While the outer part of the lunar lava cooled and solidified, the rest of it poured out and left behind voids in the form of tunnels.
These underground caverns can be several kilometers long and tens of meters wide. According to scientists, there is enough space for the equipment of the lunar base.
“These underground tunnels are a good alternative for a base not at the Moon’s South Pole, where water ice is believed to be abundant. The South Pole may be too crowded due to the fact that many countries want to build a base here. On the other hand, the extraction of water ice can be a very difficult task,” says Pan Wente from the Harbin Institute of Technology.
It is known that the Chinese base on the Moon will consist of:
– a structure in the form of a pyramid above the surface, which will serve as the entry / exit point of the base;
– the main vertical room, where the base control center and connecting corridors with other parts of the underground structure will be located;
– working and residential premises, which will be attached to the main part of the lunar base.
According to Pan Wente, all components of the Chinese base can be deployed very easily on the Moon. To strengthen the structure, scientists propose using a concrete mixture, which will be created from lunar regolith with additives delivered from Earth.
China has accelerated the development of its space program in recent years, including lunar exploration. This country can be proud of the first and so far the only spacecraft that landed on the far side of the Earth’s satellite.
China also plans to launch spacecraft to the South Pole of the Moon in the coming years to study the reserves of water ice, from which water can be extracted. By 2030, China plans to send the first astronauts to the moon, and by 2035 to build its own base on the moon.
