A new paper identifies the potential landing site for the Artemis mission as particularly vulnerable to earthquakes and landslides.
Earth’s moon has shrunk in circumference by more than 150 feet as its core gradually cooled over the past hundreds of millions of years. Just as grapes form wrinkles as they shrink into raisins, the moon also forms wrinkles as it shrinks. But unlike the flexible skin of a grape, the moon’s surface is fragile, and faults form where sections of the crust press against each other.
Moonquake and human exploration
A team of scientists found evidence that this continued shrinkage of the moon caused significant surface distortion in its south polar region. NASA Proposed for manned Artemis III landing. Because the formation of faults caused by the Moon’s contraction is often accompanied by seismic activity such as lunar earthquakes, locations near or within such fault zones may pose a risk to future human exploration efforts. there is.
In a new paper published in Planetary Science JournalResearchers have linked a group of faults in the moon’s south pole to one of the most powerful lunar earthquakes recorded by humans. apollo seismometer More than 50 years ago. The researchers used a model to simulate the stability of regional surface slopes and found that some areas were particularly vulnerable to landslides caused by earthquake shaking.
Nature and risks of lunar earthquakes
“Our model suggests that shallow lunar earthquakes, which can cause strong ground shaking in the Antarctic region, could be generated by slip events on existing faults or the formation of new thrust faults. ,” said study lead author Thomas R. Watters, a senior scientist emeritus of the United States. National Air and Space Museum Earth and Planetary Research Center. “When planning the location and stability of a permanent outpost on the Moon, consider the global distribution of young thrusts, their potential for activation, and the potential for new thrusts to emerge from ongoing global contraction. The possibility of formation of an upper fault should be considered.
Shallow moonquakes occur near the moon’s surface, only about 100 miles deep in the Earth’s crust. Similar to earthquakes, shallow lunar earthquakes are caused by faults within the moon’s interior and can be strong enough to damage buildings, equipment, and other man-made structures. But unlike earthquakes, which tend to last only seconds or minutes, shallow lunar quakes can last for hours, even an entire afternoon. The researchers linked this to the seismic survey network, similar to the magnitude 5 lunar earthquake recorded by the Apollo Passive Seismic Network in the 1970s. A group of faults recently detected by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
We simulated the seismic motion caused by a shallow lunar earthquake that occurred near the lunar south pole. Strong to moderate ground shaking is expected at a distance of at least approximately 40 km from the epicenter.Credit: Nicholas Schmerr, University of Maryland
This means that a shallow lunar earthquake could devastate a hypothetical human settlement on the moon, said study co-author Nicholas Schumer, an associate professor of geology at the University of Maryland.
“The moon’s surface can be thought of as gravel and dust on dry ground. Over billions of years, the surface has been bombarded by asteroids and comets, resulting in angular debris hitting the surface. “It’s been constantly emitted by the world,” Schumer explained. “As a result, the reworked surface material ranges from micron size to rock size, but is all very loosely integrated. When the sediments are loose, shaking and landslides are much more likely to occur. Masu.”
Researchers continue to map the moon and its seismic activity, hoping to identify more locations that may be dangerous to human exploration. NASA’s Artemis mission is scheduled to begin its first crewed flight at the end of 2024, and will eventually establish a long-term presence on the moon, eventually through lunar observatories, outposts, and settlements. Desire to learn how to live and work in another world.
Preparing for Artemis Mission
“As the launch date for the crewed Artemis mission approaches, it is critical that we keep our astronauts, equipment, and infrastructure as safe as possible,” Schumer said. “This research will help us prepare for what awaits us on the moon, whether it’s engineering structures that can withstand the moon’s seismic activity or protecting people from truly dangerous areas.” It’s about doing things.”
The team’s paper is Planetary Science Journal January 25, 2024.
References: TR Watters, NC Schmerr, RC Weber, CL Johnson, EJ Speyerer, MS Robinson, ME Banks, “Tectonics and Seismicity of the Moon’s South Pole Region,” January 25, 2024. Planetary Science Journal.
DOI: 10.3847/PSJ/ad1332
This research was supported by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission and the NASA SSERVI GEODES program (award number 80NSSC19M0216). This article does not necessarily reflect the views of this organization.