Lavatube Access Settlement Sites
Artemis Base http://asi.org
Mare Anguis or "Sea of Snakes" (72 E, 20 N), is an irregular, relatively large embayment off the NE quarter of the larger Mare Crisium ("Sea of Crises"). Chosen by The Artemis Society for its near-equatorial limb position (as seen from Earth), access to both mare and highland mineral regimes, and some probability of finding lavatube caverns. The specific part of Mare Anguis chosen by the Artemis Project Reference Mission [1] has been named "Angus Bay", a name perceived as having better public relations impact than "Sea of Snakes"[2].
Mare Anguis Clementine Images [3]
Lacus Veris ("Lake of Spring", 85 W, 18 S), a valley nestled in the easterly ring mountains of Mare Orientale, appears to have a large, long sinuous rille in Lunar Orbiter photographs. In addition, it appears the rille is located in mare-type basalt while the surrounding mountains appear to be highland-type anorthositic ancient crust, thereby giving access to different mineral regimes. It has been proposed as a base site by Oregon L5 Society Research Team, who have been studying lavatube base concepts since 1986, and by a NASA Reference Mission (the so-called "90-Day Study") in 1989 [4]. It is on the opposite limb of the Moon as Mare Anguis, as seen from Earth.
Lacus Veris Clementine Images [5]
Rima Prinz ("Prinz Rille", 44 W, 26 N), possibly a drainage channel from lava-filled crater Prinz near Aristarchus, is one of several large rilles in its area. In 1989 Peter Kokh and colleagues with the Milwaukee Lunar Reclamation Society entered a National Space Society large settlement design contest with an entry called "Prinzton" built into the walls of Rima Prinz [6]. They received second prize for their highly original concept.
Rima Prinz Images [7]
Vallis Schroteri ("Schroter Valley", 51 W, 26 N). also in the greater Aristarchus area, features a distinctive rille in the valley floor, caroming from side to side of the valley walls. A problem with using possible lavatubes within this rille is that they would be so deep and so far from the surrounding lunar surface. There would also be danger from landslides off of the steep valley walls.
Vallis Schroteri Images [8]
Aristarchus (47 W, 24 N) Area Overview [9]
Rima Hadley ("Hadley Rille" 03 E, 25 N), described as a lava channel or collapsed lavatube, was the site of the Apollo XV expedition. While no lavatube was found in the landing area, there may be some farther "downstream" where the channel narrows. Hadley Rille enabled us to see "under the surface" to see evidence of repeated floods or layers of lava in the rille walls. While the astronauts felt their Lunar Roving Vehicle could have negotiated the space-weathered walls of the rille to explore its bottom, Mission Control nixed the idea as having too high a risk-to-reward ratio (it was the first expedition using the Lunar Rover).
Rima Hadley Images [10]
Vallis Alpes ("Alpine Valley", 03 E, 49 N), apparently a long, straight graben or down-dropped block, is partly filled with lava and has a long sinuous rille running along its length. If a suitable lavatube can be found here, the location of the valley between two large mare basins may offer a wide variety of luner minerals to mine.
Vallis Alpes Images [11]
SEE ALSO a list of prime lavatube site candidates compiled by Cassandra Coombs of the University of Hawaii with Dr. B. Ray Hawke: "A Search for Intact Lava Tubes on the Moon: Possible Lunar Base Habitats" (1992)(PDF) [12]
