New Moonquake Discovery Could Influence NASA's Lunar Missions

A recently published study reveals that moonquakes, rather than meteoroid impacts, were the primary cause of terrain shifts in the Taurus-Littrow valley, where Apollo 17 astronauts landed in 1972. Researchers Thomas R.

Watters, Senior Scientist Emeritus at the Smithsonian, and Nicholas Schmerr, Associate Professor of Geology at the University of Maryland, evaluated geological evidence, including boulder tracks and landslides, to estimate the strength of past quakes and identify the responsible fault.

They found that moonquakes with magnitudes near 3.0 have repeatedly shaken the area over the past 90 million years, linked to the Lee-Lincoln fault, a young thrust fault that may still be active. Watters noted that this ongoing seismic activity should be factored into long-term lunar mission planning, particularly for the Artemis program, which aims for a continuous human presence on the moon.

The researchers calculated a one in 20 million chance of a damaging quake occurring on any given day, but this risk increases significantly for longer missions. For example, a decade-long mission could face a risk of approximately one in 5,500.

They stressed the importance of modern missions incorporating updated assessments of lunar hazards that were not considered during the Apollo era. Additionally, they anticipate advancements in lunar paleoseismology due to higher resolution mapping and new technology.

This research was supported by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission, which launched on June 18, 2009, and is operated by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. The findings highlight the need for careful planning regarding lunar infrastructure to ensure astronaut safety and mission success.