NASA has backed a new lunar exploration project aimed at determining whether the Marius Hills Pit, a prominent hole on the Moon, leads into a larger underground lava tube. The project, called GIMLI, or Geophysical Investigation of the Marius Hills Pit Lava Tube and Interior, is being led by the Planetary Science Institute under NASA’s Payloads and Research Investigations on the Surface of the Moon programme.

Located in the ancient volcanic Marius Hills region on the Moon’s nearside, the pit is about 34 metres deep and measures roughly 65 by 90 metres across. Satellite observations have confirmed the existence of the feature, but scientists have not yet been able to establish whether it connects to an extensive subterranean cave system. GIMLI is intended to provide direct measurements from the lunar surface.

The payload will use several instruments to study the pit and its surroundings. Ground-penetrating radar, seismic sensors and a gravimeter will be used together to examine the subsurface and search for evidence of a possible void extending from the pit. Cameras will also capture images of the lunar surface and the exposed walls, providing additional information about the structure and geology of the site.

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Scientists involved in the project expect the combination of these techniques to provide a clearer picture of the Moon’s subsurface. The mission will also use active-source seismic methods, an approach that has not been widely used on the Moon since seismic investigations conducted during the Apollo era. Combining seismic measurements with radar and gravity data could help researchers determine whether a lava tube extends away from the Marius Hills Pit.

Lunar lava tubes are believed to have formed billions of years ago when volcanic activity was much more widespread on the Moon. These underground structures could offer protection from extreme temperature variations, micrometeorite impacts and radiation at the lunar surface. Their potential structural stability has also made intact lava tubes of interest for future human exploration.

Beyond their possible value as natural shelters, the structures could provide scientists with access to preserved geological material. Studying rock layers inside a lunar lava tube could reveal information about the Moon’s volcanic and thermal history. The GIMLI investigation therefore aims not only to determine whether a hidden cave exists beneath the Marius Hills Pit, but also to improve understanding of the Moon’s geological past.

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