Team selected for NASA program to explore potential lunar cave

NASA has selected a Planetary Science Institute–led proposal to investigate whether a potentially large underground cave extends beyond the opening of a lunar pit. The project, called GIMLI, will study the Marius Hills Pit (MHP) on the Moon using the NASA PRISM program. PSI is partnering with Honeybee Robotics to build the equipment and instrumentation for the effort. The equipment will be carried on a lander and rover provided through the Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. GIMLI will use ground-penetrating radar, seismic sensors, and a gravimeter to investigate the subsurface, aiming to detect a lava tube extending from MHP. The team includes co-investigators from multiple institutions, and the project is expected to provide insights into the Moon's volcanic history.

• GIMLI is led by PSI associate director Than Putzig and will use active-source seismic methods, ground-penetrating radar, and a gravimeter to investigate the Marius Hills Pit.
• The project will study the subsurface properties of MHP, potentially detecting a lava tube, and will help answer questions about the Moon's geology and volcanic history.
• Honeybee Robotics will provide project management and instrumentation for the active-source seismic system, gravimeter, and cameras, and will work with PSI to operate on the lunar surface.

The findings could help understand how the pit formed and provide insights into the Moon's volcanic processes. Even if no cave is found, the data could help answer questions about the origin of MHP and the history of volcanic activity on the Moon. The project is part of NASA's efforts to explore the Moon's subsurface and understand its geological features.

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