When plotting sites for crewed lunar landings — ranging from the forthcoming Artemis missions to eventual lasting moon settlements — mission planners must account for tons of lunar parameters. For instance, the shape of the terrain could make or break a mission and a possible high volume of buried water could make one spot much more tantalizing than its drier counterpart. But now, geologists suggest it’s also important to keep moonquakes and lunar landslides in mind.
As the scientists emphasize, this is no longer an academic question. Researchers examining the moon’s south polar region — which sits near the planned landing side of Artemis 3, set to touch down in 2026 — have identified fault lines whose slips triggered a major moonquake about 50 years ago.
Certain Apollo missions carried seismometers along with them. On March 13, 1973, a particularly strong moonquake rattled those seismometers from the general direction of the moon’s south pole. Decades later, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter flew over the south pole and discerned a webwork of fault lines. With new models, researchers have connected those faults with that moonquake.
“Writer Fuel” is a series of cool real-world stories that might inspire your little writer heart. Check out our Writer Fuel page on the LimFic blog for more inspiration.
Wakati wa kupanga maeneo ya kutua kwa watu kwenye mwezi - kuanzia misheni ya Artemis inayokuja hadi makazi ya mwisho ya muda mrefu ya mwezi - wapangaji wa misheni lazima wafikirie tani za vigezo vya mwezi. Kwa mfano, umbo la eneo linaweza kufanya au kuvunja utume na uwezekano wa kiasi kikubwa cha maji yaliyofichwa inaweza kufanya sehemu moja kuwa ya kuvutia zaidi kuliko mwenzake kavu. Lakini sasa, wataalamu wa jiolojia wanadokeza kwamba ni muhimu pia kukumbuka matetemeko ya mwezi na maporomoko ya ardhi ya mwezi. Kama wanasayansi wanavyokazia, hilo si swali la kitaaluma tena. Watafiti wanaochunguza eneo la kusini la mwezi, karibu na eneo la kutua kwa Artemis 3 ambalo linatarajiwa kutua mwaka 2026, wamegundua mipasuko ambayo ilisababisha tetemeko kubwa la mwezi miaka 50 iliyopita. Baadhi ya misheni za Apollo zilikuwa na vifaa vya kupima matetemeko ya ardhi. Mnamo Machi 13, 1973, tetemeko kubwa la ardhi lilitokea kwenye pole ya kusini ya mwezi. Miongo kadhaa baadaye, chombo cha Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter kiliruka juu ya ncha ya kusini na kuona mfululizo wa mipasuko. Kwa kutumia mifano mipya, watafiti wamehusianisha mapungufu hayo na tetemeko hilo la mwezi. <unk>Writer Fuel<unk> ni mfululizo wa hadithi baridi ya ulimwengu halisi ambayo inaweza kuhamasisha moyo wako mdogo wa mwandishi. Angalia ukurasa wetu wa Writer Fuel kwenye blogi ya LimFic kwa msukumo zaidi.