The underground race to map the Moon's hidden interior
In short: China’s Chang’e-6 mission has revealed a complex two-layer structure beneath the lunar far side. This video explores how radar technology is uncovering buried lava flows and potential tunnels that could dictate where humans build permanent lunar bases.
Using high-resolution Lunar Regolith Penetrating Radar, China's Chang’e-6 mission identified a distinct underground boundary at an Apollo basin landing site. The discovery consists of fine weathered soil sitting atop a deeper layer of coarse, unweathered impact debris. This is part of a broader mapping effort across the Chang’e-3 through Chang’e-6 missions.
The data suggests the Moon's shallow interior contains buried lava flows, ancient impact layers, and possible subsurface cavities, including a candidate lava tube on the far side. These geological features are critical for China's goal of landing astronauts before 2030, as they influence strategies for water ice exploration and in-situ resource utilization.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: We Finally Know What China Found On The Far Side of The Moon
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