Moon's Fresh 728-Foot Crater Reveals Hidden Risks for Moon Bases
NASA says the Moon’s largest fresh crater seen since 2009—the 728‑foot‑wide McGetchin crater—formed likely in spring 2024 and was spotted by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The impact would have released about 15,500 tons of TNT, and its ejecta blanket shows debris can travel up to ~60 miles from the site, underscoring that even non-direct hits can threaten future lunar outposts. While such events are rare (roughly once every 132 years for a crater this size), the finding highlights real risks to planned Moon bases as NASA and China push for 2030s missions, including nuclear-powered bases at the south pole, and signals the need for robust shielding and debris forecasting in base designs.