Scientists reveal a shocking new plan: converting an underground moon cave into a base for astronauts.

Astronauts might soon be glamping in lunar caves, according to research that’s unearthed some brand-new extraterrestrial hideouts. An Italian research team spilled the beans on Monday about a moon cave that’s roughly 40 meters wide and who knows how many meters long—think spacious, not studio apartment.

The researchers found this cosmic cavern using radar measurements from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, confirming that the moon does indeed have its own version of Airbnb. This moon cave hidey-hole is wide open at the Sea of Tranquility (fancy name alert: Mare Tranquillitatis), just a short 400-kilometre hop from where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin had their historic lunar landing 55 years ago during the Apollo 11 mission.

“These lunar pits are interesting in terms of science and could serve as prime spots for future moon vacations,” the researchers noted in their study, which landed in the journal Nature on Monday.

There is an accessible cave conduit under the lunar surface. Carrer et al.: https://t.co/HnW6g5AjDs pic.twitter.com/bOAi9htsGg

— Nature Astronomy (@NatureAstronomy) July 15, 2024

Scientists have dubbed the moon cave “a promising site for a lunar base,” possibly because it’s the only real estate up there that comes with a roof! They suggest it could allow for “long-term human exploration,” which is NASA code for “we can camp out here.” The cave might even protect astronauts from the Moon’s unwelcoming hospitality — like crazy solar radiation and surprise micrometeorite strikes.

Then there’s the Sea of Tranquility, which is neither a sea nor particularly tranquil. It’s actually an ancient lava plain, featuring the Moon’s version of the Grand Canyon. This pit is supposedly the result of a lava tube collapse, but honestly, it looks like the Moon has a force field where no asteroids can impact that area.

Inside the pit lies the newly discovered lunar cave, hiding about 150 metres beneath the moon’s surface like a cosmic game of hide and seek. Data only gave us a peek at the underground cavity’s foyer. Two of the study’s authors, Leonardo Carrer and Lorenzo Bruzzone from the University of Trento, shared with The Associated Press it was “exciting” to finally confirm the existence of a lunar cave, a mystery that’s been lingering longer than grandma’s secret cookie recipe.

The cave’s entrance depth and the pit’s treacherous slopes could make building an astronaut base there about as fun as assembling IKEA furniture with missing parts. The study hypothesized that the cave’s walls would probably need some cosmic-level Home Depot reinforcements. Researchers suggested sending future robot missions, possibly armed with some cave-inspecting gizmos, to scout out lunar caves and their potential for human occupancy.

Scientists are keen on collecting more evidence to see if lunar caves could be turned into hip moon condos. They hope that further scrutiny will shed light on planetary volcanism and the moon’s long-winded geological gossip stretching back millions, or even billions, of years. This research might even give us a leg up on Mars, which is apparently riddled with more than 1,000 cave entrances, each begging for a visit. NASA is already itching to send astronauts back to the moon, aiming for a mission launch sometime in the next decade.

Where do I sign up?

With the way things have been going here on Earth lately, I’d gladly pack my bags for a one-way trip to a cozy moon cave. Canada’s starting to feel like a third-world country, with people playing ‘laser tag’ with real lasers and society’s morals and values taking a long vacation. So, yeah, beam me up, Scotty—I’ve heard lunar dust is great for the complexion!

Can’t help but think about a certain TV show

Is it just me, or does anyone else get hit by a tidal wave of nostalgia when they remember the TV show Space 1999? LOL, every time I hear about humans planning moon bases, my mind instantly teleports to Moon Base Alpha! Seriously, can someone start a petition to reboot that show? I’m ready to sign with a glitter pen and all!

To Infinity and Beyond!

So there you have it—a moon cave that could soon become the hottest real estate in the solar system. Whether you’re team “Lunar Glamping” or think it’s all a “space waste,” one thing’s for sure: our cosmic quest just got a whole lot more interesting. Maybe, just maybe, we’re one step closer to living out our Space 1999 fantasies!

Now, we’d love to hear from you! What do you think about living in a moon cave? Is it an exciting leap for humanity or just another astronomical expense? Drop your thoughts in the comments below and let’s start a stellar conversation! 🌕🚀