NASA has selected a project to investigate whether the Marius Hills Pit, a mysterious opening on the Moon, leads to an underground cavern that could one day shelter astronauts from dangerous radiation and extreme temperatures. Discovered in 2009, the pit is roughly 10 stories deep, with an opening the size of a football field. Led by the Planetary Science Institute, the Geophysical Instruments for Marius Lunar Pit Investigation (GIMLI) will use ground-penetrating radar, seismic sensors, and gravity measurements to search for hidden lava tubes and map the subsurface.
The investigation could reveal important clues about the Moon's volcanic history. Exposed layers of lunar soil and ancient lava flows may help scientists understand how eruptions shaped the lunar landscape. Meanwhile, NASA is preparing for its Artemis IV mission, which aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface in 2028.