Lunar Lava Tubes as Shelters on the Moon

[Radrook]

When we thought about lunar colonization back in the 1960s we imagined the construction of translucent domes or perhaps installations similar to the ones depicted in the TV series Space 1999 with rectangular buildings spread out on the lunar surface.

But as the dangers of radiation were considered other options became far more practical. One of them was the use of natural structures called lava tubes which are empty tubes left behind after the lava has finished flowing.



Lunar lava tube - Wikipedia

Lunar lava tubes

are sub-surface tunnels on the Moon that are believed to have formed during basaltic lava flows. When the surface of a lava tube cools, it forms a hardened lid that contains the ongoing lava flow beneath the surface in a conduit-shaped passage. Once the flow of lava diminishes, the tunnel may become drained, forming a hollow void. Lunar lava tubes are formed on surfaces that have a slope that ranges in angle from 0.4–6.5°.[1] Lunar lava tubes may be as wide as 500 metres (1,600 ft) before they become unstable against gravitational collapse. However, stable tubes may still be disrupted by seismic events or meteoroid bombardment.[2]

I was familiar with the concept of lunar lava tubes as shelters for lunar colonization but I was under the impression that they were rather small structures that could perhaps provide shelters for small lunar installations. Amazingly, I found that on the moon some might even be large enough to safely shelter the a city the size of Philadelphia or a self contained habitat of considerable size.

Also, interesting is that these lunar lava tubes don’t suffer either the structural stress due to gravity or erosion that they might experience on Earth due to weather since the moon has a far lower gravity and no whether at all due to a lack of an atmosphere.

So structural stability would not be an issue of urgent concern. Their roofs are expected to be approx 10 meters thick which is approx 32.81 feet thick.

Other benefits of setting up residence in lunar lava tube,are avoiding the corrosive lunar dust and protection fro meteor impact.

https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/lava-tube-lunar-base/

BTW
Such lava tubes themselves are to be used only as receptacles for prefabricated habitats and not as habitats in themselves. They will also reduce the cost of additional material needed for radiation shielding.

Down the Lunar Rabbit-hole | Science Mission Directorate

 

[Shemjaza]

I really hope to be able to see the glitter of cities on the moon in my lifetime.

 

[Radrook]

I really hope to be able to see the glitter of cities on the moon in my lifetime.

Well, if we assemble the cities in lava tubes then they definitely won't be visible from above and the lunar landscape would remain mostly as we see it now except for mining operation activities and perhaps the equipment that is being used.

BTW

I personally had the same vision of glittering translucent domed cities or installations and it is definitely far more visually aesthetic.

Unfortunately aesthetics must take a second seat to survival in such a harsh environment and so lava tube, usage in order to protect against constant radiation, threats of meteor impacts and the effects of the extremely abrasive moon dust is the more probable scenario that will become a reality.

 

[Shemjaza]

Well, if we assemble the cities in lava tubes then they definitely won't be visible from above and the lunar landscape would remain mostly as we see it now except for mining operation activities and perhaps the equipment that is being used.

BTW

I personally had the same vision of glittering translucent domed cities or installations and it is definitely far more visually aesthetic.

Unfortunately aesthetics must take a second seat to survival in such a harsh environment and so lava tube, usage in order to protect against constant radiation, threats of meteor impacts and the effects of the extremely abrasive moon dust is the more probable scenario that will become a reality.

The glitter would probably be some mix of mining machinery and fields of solar collectors.

But building cities into the large deep craters allows you to take advantage of the terrain, but also have a sky so people don't go stir crazy.

 

[Blackmarch]

For any long term facility, subterranean is the most desirable. Cheaper protection from radiation and meteors.

 

[Radrook]

The glitter would probably be some mix of mining machinery and fields of solar collectors.

But building cities into the large deep craters allows you to take advantage of the terrain, but also have a sky so people don't go stir crazy.

Talking about stir crazy: There is a TV series which dramatizes the difficulties expected to be encountered by the first colonists on Mars who have chosen to use a deep crater in which to locate their installation in order to avoid radiation and sandstorms.

At one point a sandstorm damages equipment which helps to transmit the electricity produced on the surface and they are forced to survive on the minimum output.

Those who had been there for a while and who had acclimatized to the stresses and uncertainties adapted to the new situation successfully. But the newly-arrived botanist, a rather high strung workaholic type of person began to experience a gradual nervous breakdown as his botanical garden began to whither.

He gradually began to isolate himself from others and to speak to his plants in compassionate ways. Encouraging them for hanging on for dear life and mourning for those species which had succumbed to the less light available.

Finally, he began to hallucinate and imagining himself back on Earth looking out a window into his sunlit garden where his plants were flourishing.

Before anyone could stop him, he opened what he believed to be the back door to his house and explosive decompression kills him instantly as he is exposed to reality of the Martian atmosphere.

The rest of the installation crew survived because his insane intentions had been detected via surveillance cameras just in time and all adjacent areas had been rapidly sealed off.

But that's a Martian colony. The advantage of a Moon colony is that it would allow a regular replacement of installation personnel for stress reduction. Emergencies requiring quick advice would also have the benefit of a quick assistance from Earth since communication is just a matter of seconds of delay.

 

[Blackmarch]

The glitter would probably be some mix of mining machinery and fields of solar collectors.

But building cities into the large deep craters allows you to take advantage of the terrain, but also have a sky so people don't go stir crazy.

A false sky theoretically wouldn't be hard to reproduce. If any have seen that idea for the boeing virtual window to replace regular windows on a passenger jet to make it seem like the walls were just a glass covering... Something kind of like that

 

[Radrook]

For any long term facility, subterranean is the most desirable. Cheaper protection from radiation and meteors.

Subterranean also avoids temperature extremes as they shift back and forth on the surface since underground temperatures tend to remain stable.

They are shielded from the variations in temperature at the lunar surface, which would provide a stable environment for inhabitants.[20]

^ De Angelis, G.; et al. (November 2001), "Lunar Lava Tubes Radiation Safety Analysis", Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 33: 1037, Bibcode:DPS....33.1003D

 

[Radrook]

A false sky theoretically wouldn't be hard to reproduce. If any have seen that idea for the boeing virtual window to replace regular windows on a passenger jet to make it seem like the walls were just a glass covering... Something kind of like that

Sounds like a great idea. But would I be able to swivel my neck on its gimbals sufficiently in 2nd class seating in order to appreciate it fully is the question.

 

[Blackmarch]

Sounds like a great idea. But would I be able to swivel my neck on its gimbals sufficiently in 2nd class seating in order to appreciate it fully is the question.

it would probably would be easier to pull off in a colony where people wouldn't be right up against the walls... whereas if youre on a jet, i'm wondering if you're right up against them if they will have some sort of field of depth effect going on or if it's going to be like being up against a computer screen now.

also correction; it wasn't boeing but a british company

In 10 Years, Windowless Planes Will Give Passengers A Panoramic View Of The Sky

 

[Radrook]

it would probably would be easier to pull off in a colony where people wouldn't be right up against the walls... whereas if youre on a jet, i'm wondering if you're right up against them if they will have some sort of field of depth effect going on or if it's going to be like being up against a computer screen now.

also correction; it wasn't boeing but a british company

In 10 Years, Windowless Planes Will Give Passengers A Panoramic View Of The Sky

Judging by the following photos which can be better appreciated at the website, I think it's a great idea both for the airplanes and the Lunar or Martian tubes.

 

[Radrook]

Exploration of Lunar lava tubes from orbit and rovers:

 

[keith99]

When we thought about lunar colonization back in the 1960s we imagined the construction of translucent domes or perhaps installations similar to the ones depicted in the TV series Space 1999 with rectangular buildings spread out on the lunar surface.

But as the dangers of radiation were considered other options became far more practical. One of them was the use of natural structures called lava tubes which are empty tubes left behind after the lava has finished flowing.



Lunar lava tube - Wikipedia


I was familiar with the concept of lunar lava tubes as shelters for lunar colonization but I was under the impression that they were rather small structures that could perhaps provide shelters for small lunar installations. Amazingly, I found that on the moon some might even be large enough to safely shelter the a city the size of Philadelphia or a self contained habitat of considerable size.

Also, interesting is that these lunar lava tubes don’t suffer either the structural stress due to gravity or erosion that they might experience on Earth due to weather since the moon has a far lower gravity and no whether at all due to a lack of an atmosphere.

So structural stability would not be an issue of urgent concern. Their roofs are expected to be approx 10 meters thick which is approx 32.81 feet thick.

Other benefits of setting up residence in lunar lava tube,are avoiding the corrosive lunar dust and protection fro meteor impact.

https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/lava-tube-lunar-base/

BTW
Such lava tubes themselves are to be used only as receptacles for prefabricated habitats and not as habitats in themselves. They will also reduce the cost of additional material needed for radiation shielding.

Down the Lunar Rabbit-hole | Science Mission Directorate

Perhaps you considered domes. I was guided by R.A. Heinlein and expected tunnels not flimsy shelters.

Also for the record Heinlein made specific mention of teh dangers of being on the surface in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (copyright 1966) and I'm pretty sure in works previous to that.

Good to see the TV watching world is only a half century behind those who read.

 

[Radrook]

Perhaps you considered domes. I was guided by R.A. Heinlein and expected tunnels not flimsy shelters.

Also for the record Heinlein made specific mention of teh dangers of being on the surface in The Moon is a Harsh Mistress (copyright 1966) and I'm pretty sure in works previous to that.

Good to see the TV watching world is only a half century behind those who read.

I never viewed domed cities as flimsy. They looked pretty sturdy to me. What did seem ridiculous was the Lunar installation in the TV series Space 1999. The moon had been thrown from its orbit around our Earth due to nuclear explosions and began to move into distant regions. But no matter where it travelled far from the Sun the it remained brightly lit. No gravitational anomalies inside either. Absolutely no concern for radiation hazards or impacts. Not that I am overly-demanding in terms of TV or film entertainment in the sci fi genre but there is definitely a limit beyond which suspension of disbelieve becomes impossible. That applies equally to reading of sci fi. I will cut you some slack but don't insult my intelligence.

Many decades ago I read Heinleim's Stranger in a Strange Land where he describes the very sheltered life that those who colonized Mars were forced to live due to the planet's harsh environment. Much more realistic than Arthur C. Clark's The Martian Chronicles.

BTW
Domed Lunar Cities aren't as ridiculously far-fetched as you imagine.
Shackleton Dome: Is a Domed Lunar City Possible?

 

[keith99]

I never viewed domed cities as flimsy. They looked pretty sturdy to me. What did seem ridiculous was the Lunar installation in the TV series Space 1999. The moon had been thrown from its orbit around our Earth due to nuclear explosions and began to move into distant regions. But no matter where it travelled far from the Sun the it remained brightly lit. No gravitational anomalies inside either. Absolutely no concern for radiation hazards or impacts. Not that I am overly-demanding in terms of TV or film entertainment in the sci fi genre but there is definitely a limit beyond which suspension of disbelieve becomes impossible. That applies equally to reading of sci fi. I will cut you some slack but don't insult my intelligence.

Many decades ago I read Heinleim's Stranger in a Strange Land where he describes the very sheltered life that those who colonized Mars were forced to live due to the planet's harsh environment. Much more realistic than Arthur C. Clark's The Martian Chronicles.

BTW
Domed Lunar Cities aren't as ridiculously far-fetched as you imagine.
Shackleton Dome: Is a Domed Lunar City Possible?

I agree domes are possible. But that domes will be the start is economically absurd. Tunnels are fairly easy to create, they naturally lead to compartmentalization and as you are well aware they deal with radiation issues rather nicely. They also integrate nicely with exploration for mineral resources.

 

[Blackmarch]

To add to the list types of living accomodations-
pod structures landed on the moon, usually autonomously... Usually to be a base while work on a more permanent type is underway.

A variant of the tunnel type; the ditch which then has a tubular structure placed in it, followed by burying the exposed part with what was excavated.

Id have to say my first experience with coming across moon colonization theory were just books on solar exploration and generally all the above ideas were covered.

One interesting far future idea which would require super tech was building a shell around the moon, and then terraforming it inside the shell.

 

[Radrook]

To add to the list types of living accomodations-
pod structures landed on the moon, usually autonomously... Usually to be a base while work on a more permanent type is underway.

A variant of the tunnel type; the ditch which then has a tubular structure placed in it, followed by burying the exposed part with what was excavated.

Id have to say my first experience with coming across moon colonization theory were just books on solar exploration and generally all the above ideas were covered.

One interesting far future idea which would require super tech was building a shell around the moon, and then terraforming it inside the shell.

The problem I see with using ditches, placing tubes and then burying them to the required thickness is that it seems to require that we transport Earth-moving machinery to the Moon for covering the habitats with sufficient lunar regolith to protect them fro meteor impact and radiation hazards. That would seem to add to the cost of the mission and perhaps making it prohibitively too expensive.

In contrast, lunar lava tubes don't seem to require so much energy and time-consuming labor.

 

[keith99]

The problem I see with using ditches, placing tubes and then burying them to the required thickness is that it seems to require that we transport Earth-moving machinery to the Moon for covering the habitats with sufficient lunar regolith to protect them fro meteor impact and radiation hazards. That would seem to add to the cost of the mission and perhaps making it prohibitively too expensive.

In contrast, lunar lava tubes don't seem to require so much energy and time-consuming labor.

But there are only so many lava tubes. Eventually construction machinery will have to be used. But it would not surprise me if taking advantage of existing geologic structures would allow for colonization to the point that would support the industry to build that machinery. Or at least most of it. Even to start I'd expect some linking and finishing to be needed.

 

[Radrook]

But there are only so many lava tubes. Eventually construction machinery will have to be used. But it would not surprise me if taking advantage of existing geologic structures would allow for colonization to the point that would support the industry to build that machinery. Or at least most of it. Even to start I'd expect some linking and finishing to be needed.

Even with Lava tubes there might be a considerable amount of regolith and rubble to move in order to clear a foundation for the habitats. So if we are going to build something of a substantial size machinery will certainly have to be employed.

Manufacturing of machines there would require that we use the resources on the Moon itself for raw material. Mere assemblage of machine parts on the Moon won't reduce the fuel cost involved lifting the weight off the Earth.

 

[keith99]

Even with Lava tubes there might be a considerable amount of regolith and rubble to move in order to clear a foundation for the habitats. So if we are going to build something of a substantial size machinery will certainly have to be employed.

Manufacturing of machines there would require that we use the resources on the Moon itself for raw material. Mere assemblage of machine parts on the Moon won't reduce the fuel cost involved lifting the weight off the Earth.

True. The most likely result will be a hybrid of sorts, at least to start. Fittings and electronics from Earth but sheet metal and tubing/beams manufactured on the Moon. Over time one would expect a drift towards more moon manufactured parts.