Xie and his team first proposed in 2019 that the moon’s hollow, tube-like caves, formed by volcanic activity, might be suitable for human habitation and suggested that the environment could be simulated using natural underground spaces on Earth.
The proposal followed that year’s successful germination of cotton seeds on the moon’s far side, as part of the Chang’e 4 lunar landing mission.
Scientists turn huge cave in southwest China into lunar research facility
Researchers want to know if volcanic lava tubes could support a moon base and they are looking for answers deep below ground on Earth
Zhang Tongin Beijing
Attendees at China’s first international conference on space habitation and exploitation were given a tour of a vast underground cave system that Chinese researchers are hoping to use as a testing ground for living on the moon and Mars.
Xie Gengxin, from the Centre of Space Exploration at Chongqing University in southwestern China, organized the visit to Youyang Base, where large-scale closed cave ecosystem validation research is under way. . .
Xie Gengxin, from the Centre of Space Exploration at Chongqing University in southwestern China, organized the visit to Youyang Base, where large-scale closed cave ecosystem validation research is under way. . .
Xie, who was chief designer of the moon surface micro-ecological circle, revealed at the time that cotton, rapeseed, potato, arabidopsis – commonly known as rock cress – as well as yeast and fruit flies, were chosen for the experiment.
Bases on the moon and Mars will be essential components of future deep space exploration, but their extreme environments present significant challenges – including temperature fluctuations, intense radiation and frequent meteorite impacts.
Bases on the moon and Mars will be essential components of future deep space exploration, but their extreme environments present significant challenges – including temperature fluctuations, intense radiation and frequent meteorite impacts.
- In contrast, the recently discovered lava tubes on the moon can withstand meteorites and radiation, while maintaining relatively stable internal temperatures.
- And if the ceilings are thick enough, the tubes could be pressurized to standard atmospheric levels, making them a promising site for future lunar bases, according to the scientists. . .
Construction will largely be carried out by robots, with priority given to utilizing resources that can be found on the moon,” Xie said.
The team’s plan for an extraterrestrial, cave-based habitat involves three phases,
- starting with identifying and modifying a suitable lava tube, then
- establishing a cave farm for plants and livestock, and finally
- habitat construction.
According to the researchers, a production area will be reserved in the planned moon base layout, where lunar regolith will be transformed from loose dust and broken rocks into building materials or planting medium.
Once the initial modifications are complete, a cave farm will be established. It will be divided into three key areas, with
- the farming zone focusing on plant cultivation and animal incubation.
- An equipment area will incorporate local resources and human waste to establish resource cycles, converting some organic matter into nutrient solutions.
- Finally, a backyard will serve as a transitional space for plants adapted to lowlight conditions.
The habitat construction phase will focus on optimizing energy systems and residential areas to ensure the long-term survival of humans.
An energy system will use solar power and thermoelectric generation from the moon’s surface to generate electricity, providing stable power supply for system operations, heating, and environmental regulation.
The residential area will balance comfort and functionality, providing living, exercise, and research spaces for the crew, according to the researchers.
“As deep space exploration advances rapidly, using lunar and Martian caves to build habitats will become a crucial starting point for humanity’s exploration of the cosmos and expansion of living space, ushering in a new era of extraterrestrial civilization,” Xie said.
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