Innovative Research on Moonquakes Alters NASA's Lunar Plans

A recently published study in the journal Science Advances reveals that moonquakes, rather than meteoroid impacts, are primarily responsible for the shifting terrain in the Taurus-Littrow valley, the Apollo 17 landing site.

Researchers Thomas R. Watters, a Smithsonian Senior Scientist Emeritus, and Nicholas Schmerr, an Associate Professor of Geology at the University of Maryland, analyzed Apollo 17 samples and observations.

They discovered that moonquakes with magnitudes near 3.0 have repeatedly affected the area over the last 90 million years, particularly linked to the Lee-Lincoln fault. The study indicates that this fault may still be active, which is crucial for planning future lunar missions.

Watters and Schmerr calculated the statistical risk of a damaging moonquake occurring near an active fault, estimating a one in twenty million chance on any given day. However, for longer missions, the cumulative risk increases significantly.

They emphasize that missions with a longer duration could face a risk of one in five thousand five hundred for experiencing a hazardous moonquake. This study's implications are particularly relevant as NASA advances its Artemis program, which aims for a sustained human presence on the moon.

The researchers recommend avoiding construction directly on or near active faults to enhance safety. Their work, supported by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, represents a significant advancement in the field of lunar paleoseismology, which focuses on ancient seismic activity on the moon.

Schmerr notes that future missions will benefit from advanced seismometers and improved mapping technology to assess seismic risks more effectively.