As NASA prepares to send astronauts to the south polar region of the Moon for the first time, scientists are working on methods to determine the frequency of moonquakes along active faults in that area. Moonquakes are rare but can cause significant damage or disruption to lunar surface assets over hours, unlike earthquakes which last only seconds.
Researchers have identified thousands of active faults across the Moon using data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), which has been mapping the Moon’s surface since 2009. A new study published in Science Advances estimates that a magnitude 3.0 moonquake occurs along the Lee-Lincoln fault about every 5.6 million years.
The researchers developed a new method for estimating the magnitude of seismic shaking by analyzing evidence of dislodged boulders and landslides in an area. By studying these events, they estimated the chances that a quake would have shaken the Taurus-Littrow valley on any given day while Apollo 17 astronauts were present, which is just 1 in 20 million.
To better understand moonquakes, NASA plans to send more seismometers to the Moon. The Lunar Environment Monitoring Station will assess seismic risks for future human and robotic missions to the south polar region. This mission aims to provide unprecedented detail of features like faults, boulders, and landslides on the Moon’s surface.
By studying moonquakes, scientists can plan lunar surface assets in safer locations, reducing the risk of damage or disruption during a mission. The research is crucial for NASA’s Artemis III mission, which will explore the south polar region of the Moon for the first time.
Source: https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/nasas-apollo-samples-lro-help-scientists-predict-moonquakes