Moon's Shrinkage and Moonquakes Pose Risk to NASA's Artemis Missions

Researchers are mapping the lunar surface and studying seismic activity to ensure the safety of future human exploration.

The Moon's ongoing shrinkage, caused by the cooling of its core, is leading to surface warping and the formation of faults, particularly in the south polar region.
Researchers have linked these faults to powerful moonquakes, which can last for several hours and cause significant damage to structures and equipment.
The south polar region, where these faults and moonquakes are most prevalent, is also home to some of the proposed landing sites for NASA's Artemis III mission.
Moonquakes could also trigger landslides, posing an additional risk to future lunar missions and potential human settlements on the Moon.
Researchers are actively mapping the Moon and studying its seismic activity to identify more locations that may threaten human exploration and to engineer structures that can withstand lunar seismic activity.