NASA Researchers Send Robotic Team to Explore Volcanic Caves on the Moon and Mars.
Scientists have successfully tested a concept for exploring underground volcanic tunnels on the Moon and Mars using specialized robots. The experiment was conducted on Lanzarote, an island in Spain, where two rovers helped each other navigate through a vertical shaft into a subterranean cave.
The approach, demonstrated by researchers at the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science, involves sending a team of robotic explorers to map and investigate underground volcanic environments. These tunnels, formed when lava flows beneath a cooled surface layer, are ideal for building future missions due to their natural protection from cosmic radiation and other hazards.
Satellite surveys have identified similar structures on Mars and the Moon, sparking interest in utilizing these areas as potential habitats for human exploration. The strategy devised by a team of researchers led by Carlos Pérez-del-Pulgar has paved the way for testing robots’ abilities to explore lava caves in realistic field conditions.
The experiment consisted of four phases: two rovers mapped the surface around the cave entrance, a small probe created a detailed 3D map of the entrance, and the rovers planned a descent route based on this information. The successful exploration demonstrates progress toward future lunar or Martian missions and holds potential for discovering life signatures in these environments.
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-02585-9