NASA’s GIMLI Mission to Probe Lunar Lava Tubes
NASA has selected the GIMLI mission to investigate the Marius Hills Pit on the Moon, aiming to determine if the surface opening connects to a massive underground lava tube. Led by the Planetary Science Institute, the mission will deploy a lander and rover equipped with ground-penetrating radar, seismic sensors, and a gravimeter to map the subsurface. The project seeks to validate geological theories about lunar volcanism and assess whether these natural cavities can provide radiation shielding for future human habitats. Funding is provided through the PRISM program, with hardware developed by Honeybee Robotics and the Norwegian Space Agency.