Team selected for NASA program to explore potential lunar cave

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1. 1h ago

   NASA Selects Team to Explore Potential Lunar Cave

   NASA has chosen a Planetary Science Institute-led team to investigate whether the Marius Hills Pit opens into a vast underground cave or lava tube. The project, named Geophysical Instruments for Marius Lunar pit Investigation or GIMLI, will use radar, seismic sensors, gravity measurements, and cameras to search beneath the lunar surface and estimate the size of any hidden void. Such underground spaces could preserve clues to the Moon's volcanic history and potentially provide protected shelters for future astronauts to escape surface radiation and extreme temperature swings.

   Why it matters

   The selection falls under NASA's Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon program, which delivers scientific instruments via the Commercial Lunar Payloads Services initiative. Honeybee Robotics and the Norwegian Space Agency are partnering on the effort. This investigation shifts focus toward direct lunar-base preparations and builds on years of orbital observation.

   What is confirmed

   • NASA selected a Planetary Science Institute-led team to investigate whether a potentially large underground cave extends beyond the opening of a lunar pit.
   • The selected project is called the Geophysical Instruments for Marius Lunar pit Investigation, or GIMLI, and is led by Than Putzig.
   • The GIMLI project will use radar, seismic sensors, gravity measurements, and cameras to search beneath the lunar surface.
   • Honeybee Robotics is partnering with the Planetary Science Institute to build much of the equipment and instrumentation.
   • The project is funded through NASA's Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon program.
   • Scientific instruments for the project will be carried on a lander and rover provided through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative.

   What to watch next

   • Updates on instrument development by Honeybee Robotics and partner agencies
   • Milestones regarding the Commercial Lunar Payload Services lander and rover delivery schedule
   Sources used for this update (16)

   1. mynews13.com — NASA gives updates on moon base missions
   2. Phys.org — Team selected for NASA program to explore potential lunar cave
   3. NASA (.gov) — NASA Adds New Science Investigations for Moon Base
   4. noticiasambientales.com — NASA projects lunar shelters: new instruments to explore the Lunar Base
   5. findarticles.com — NASA shifts Artemis from Gateway toward lunar-base plan
   6. Moneycontrol.com — A mysterious hole on the Moon may open into a giant cave: NASA to find what lies beneath
   7. www.sciencedaily.com — This mysterious hole on the Moon may open into a giant cave
   8. Phys.org — Team selected for NASA program to explore potential lunar cave
   9. www.eurekalert.org — PSI-led team selected for NASA PRISM program to explore potential lunar cave | EurekAlert!
   10. www.psi.edu — PSI-led team selected for NASA PRISM program to explore potential lunar cave - Planetary Science Institut....
   11. economictimes.indiatimes.com — Moon may have underground caves, new NASA team to find out if they can become safe heavens for astronauts
   12. www.brightsurf.com — PSI-led team selected for NASA PRISM program to explore ...
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