NASA selects PSI-led project to explore potential lunar caves

NASA has selected a proposal led by the Planetary Science Institute (PSI) to investigate whether large underground caves exist beneath the Moon’s surface. The project, titled Geophysical Instruments for Marius Lunar pit Investigation (GIMLI), is part of the Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon (PRISM) program.

The mission will focus on the Marius Hills Pit (MHP), a large depression in a volcanically diverse lunar region. Scientists aim to determine if this pit serves as an entrance to subterranean lava tubes. Such underground spaces could eventually provide essential habitats for astronauts, offering protection from extreme temperature fluctuations and solar radiation.

PSI is partnering with Honeybee Robotics to develop the necessary instrumentation, which will be deployed via a lander and rover through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. The Norwegian Space Agency will also contribute ground-penetrating radar to the effort. The research involves a collaborative network including Boise State University, Johns Hopkins University, the Lunar and Planetary Institute, and the University of Oslo.