Powerful Moonquakes , Could Endanger Future , Lunar Missions.
'Newsweek' reports that the moon has slowly
been shrinking, causing the surface to shrivel
up, triggering massive moonquakes. .
Over the past few million years,
the moon has lost about 150 feet
in circumference as it cooled. .
Consequently, the surface of our
lunar companion has wrinkled up
like the skin of a dried fruit. .
The increasing brittleness of the moon's
surface has resulted in faults, which
could endanger future lunar missions. .
A paper published in 'The Planetary Science Journal'
reveals that these faults have been connected
with a powerful magnitude five moonquake.
That quake was recorded by
seismometers in a 1970s Apollo mission
in the moon's south polar region. .
'Newsweek' reports that moonquakes
are the result of similar mechanisms
that cause earthquakes on Earth. .
However, moonquakes can have a much
longer duration than earthquakes,
often occurring over several hours. .
Once humans develop lunar settlements, these quakes
could cause extensive damage to structures and
equipment and could trigger catastrophic landslides.
Once humans develop lunar settlements, these quakes
could cause extensive damage to structures and
equipment and could trigger catastrophic landslides.
The lunar seismic activity could pose a major problem for
future moon missions, as NASA's crewed Artemis III mission
is scheduled to land in one of the most at-risk areas. .
The lunar seismic activity could pose a major problem for
future moon missions, as NASA's crewed Artemis III mission
is scheduled to land in one of the most at-risk areas.