NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — Lava tubes and chambers on Mars have become the object of increased interest among scientists exploring the prospects for colonization of the Red Planet.
These structures have the potential to create bases that provide protection from radiation, temperature changes and even meteorites.
Volcanic activity on Mars, as well as on Earth, occurs not only on the surface, but also in the deep layers of the planet’s crust. This process leads to the formation of a network of lava tubes and chambers that could provide an ideal shelter for future settlers.
NASA‘s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) captured images of a lava tube in the Hephaestus Pits area of Utopia Planitia on Mars. This structure is associated with the Elysium volcanic center and may have been formed by meltwater.
Lava tubes provide natural protection from the increased radiation on Mars, which is 40-50 times stronger than on Earth. Thick rocks above the pipes can serve as an effective shield from harmful radiation.
Additionally, the variable temperatures on Mars, ranging from 20°C to -152°C, could be moderated by the surrounding rock formations, providing a comfortable environment for future colonists.
Various countries, including China, are already developing plans to explore lunar lava tubes with the possibility of building bases. These projects could be a precursor to future missions to Mars, where lava tubes provide unique objects for exploration.
The current emphasis in Mars exploration is on finding traces of past life. However, with the presence of potentially habitable underground structures such as lava tubes, these objects become key to future exploration and colonization of the Red Planet.
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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